The 26-year-old openside has been named in the Otago team for its Ranfurly Shield challenge against Canterbury in Christchurch tomorrow.
Lentjes was born in Christchurch, honed his rugby skills at St Bede's College and once hoped to play for the red and blacks.
But he moved south in 2014 to chase an opportunity with Otago and it proved a good decision.
He has played 25 games for his adopted province and also made 21 appearances for the Highlanders. And as far as he is concerned, he has no mixed loyalties.
``I've been here long enough now that this is my team,'' he said.
``It is good to go home and get some support from the family but I just want to beat them as much as anybody else around here.''
Canterbury has four Highlanders in its starting XV but having mates in the other side was just extra motivation for Lentjes.
``If anything you end up going harder on them. Getting one over your mate - there is nothing better.''
The advent of professional rugby in 1995 added another tier of rugby and arguably the Ranfurly Shield has lost some of its lustre.
But while the public's attention may have waned, playing for the Shield remains important to the players.
``If you are lucky enough to say you have won the Shield then you are part of an elite group of players.
``It was awesome when Otago won it in 2013. I wasn't part of the team but it meant a lot to this province and we'd love to do it again.
``It won't be easy. Canterbury are a top side and have been dominating over the last few years.''
That is an understatement. Canterbury had a mortgage on the title between 2008 and 2013. Taranaki snapped the winning streak in 2014 but Canterbury has won the last two competitions and started its 2017 campaign with an impressive 39-0 win against Tasman last week.
How Canterbury plays is outside Otago's control, and the team has enough to work on following a disappointing display against North Harbour.
It fumbled its way through the first half and another 20 minutes slipped away before Otago was able to string some phases together.
``We weren't happy with how we played. We made a lot of unforced errors and there was no excuse, even though there were bad conditions.
``We know if we play like that against Canterbury we will be in for a long day at the office.''
Lentjes, who missed three months of the Super Rugby season with an elbow injury, felt his side's lack of polish was partly down to a threadbare pre-season.
Otago played one match against Southland but none of its Super Rugby players were available, so its season opener against North Harbour was really the first time the team had played together.
With another nine days of training behind Otago, Lentjes hopes there will be a more clinical performance from the side.