The Highlanders lock is lapping up the preparation for the match against the British and Irish Lions tomorrow night.
He cannot wait for a match to mix it with some tough Lions forwards.
"It’s not every day you go out and play a team like the Lions. It’s not just another game. It’s definitely not, definitely not," Ainley said.
"We have been training hard. It is not a new team, just a new bunch of guys since the past few games. We have not had to do anything to get the guys excited about the game.
"They have lots of big boys but we play South Africans and they are big boys too. We played the Crusaders last week and they have got a good set piece. We’ll try our best to contain them, maybe even push them a bit."
Ainley said the Highlanders would be boosted by the inclusion of All Blacks Waisake Naholo and Lima Sopoaga.
When the Lions last toured in 2005, Ainley was playing in Marlborough for a few dollars.
He was a provincial toiler but the cards have fallen the right way since he came back to New Zealand in 2013.
"The year later, I went over to Nelson and started playing for Tasman," he said.
"Four years ago I came back from Japan and was retired pretty much then. But Tasman was short of locks so I thought I will play for them. Then this [Highlanders contract] came up. It just keeps coming year after year.
"I think as you get older you appreciate more of what you’ve got. And appreciate the footy. My job is running round the field with my mates — it’s not too bad.
"The boys here, the Highlanders do really feel what they have got. I’ve played for some teams where the boys don’t appreciate what they’ve got and it gives a bad feeling for the team. But the guys down here really appreciate what they’ve got. It is driving them. We run around the field for a living and we are with their mates."
Ainley worked in river management for a contracting firm in Nelson, but rugby and the Highlanders took over.
"Then Jamie Joseph rung me. It was just for one year. My boss held my job for a year and then in the second year, when I was asked to come back [to the Highlanders], my boss said I had to take it. He said just keep going."
Nothing has been decided for next year.
"They are happy with how I am going. I have played more games this year than any of the other years ... I’m in no rush."