But that is not stopping him coming up the road to try to take the Ranfurly Shield.
Hewett will bring a well-rested side to Forsyth Barr Stadium today for a tilt at the shield.
He knows it is not going to be easy, but has faith in his side.
"We know they do not want to be the team that is the first one to lose to us in 22 games. And to go with that, be the team that loses the shield. That is just being realistic," he said.
"But if we play well we are in with a shot."
He said there was obviously plenty of emotion around a Ranfurly Shield game, but it was about using that emotion in the right way.
That meant staying composed and sticking to the plans when the pressure came on.
Southland held the shield twice, in 2010 and 2011, and two of the current squad were involved. But hooker Brayden Mitchell is injured and Scott Eade is on the bench, so it is a side light on experience.
The Stags lost to Northland 27-17 in the first game of the Mitre 10 Cup on August 8, so they have had plenty of time to build up for the game.
The side had last weekend off and built well this week for the game.
Hewett said he had seen some positives against Northland in the way the side had defended. Just a few lapses of concentration had been costly.
He said belief was important and that came by just playing well and improving.