There is no doubt that Cane has the inside running for the black No7 jersey due to his four tests for the All Blacks last year, but he said he doesn't think that way and that is probably a good thing. Despite an increase in game time this season, Cane hasn't quite replicated his form of last year with the Chiefs.
For him at least, complacency is not an issue.
Matt Todd at the Crusaders and Luke Braid from the Blues have possibly shaded him which is possibly a reflection of how well their respective forward packs are playing compared with the Chiefs at times. Ardie Savea, John Hardie and Karl Lowe are others who have been mentioned as having claims by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
Asked if he was feeling the malaise which seems to be affecting some of his All Blacks' teammates, Cane replied: "I'm probably not really in that category. I was part of the All Blacks last year but only played a handful of tests. My focus is to really play well and try to push to get into that All Blacks squad again."
He doesn't deny that an All Blacks' starting spot was in his mind. "It's definitely an opportunity isn't it? Every No7 in the country is pushing hard for that spot so it's probably the first time in about 10 years that it's guaranteed that Richie isn't going to be there so it's an opportunity for sure.
"As if the carrot wasn't already big enough, three tests against the French would be pretty amazing."
To find out how Cane got to be in this position one has to look back to last season with the Chiefs. Clearly marked out as someone with potential, the now 21-year-old was managed carefully by coach Dave Rennie, no doubt in consultation with Hansen.
It was frustrating at times for Cane, though, as he and Tanerau Latimer were swapped throughout.
Cane said: "Last year I didn't start two games in a row all season. There was a lot of chopping and changing. It's good to get a few starts under the belt. It only helps your game getting those extra minutes - you get that momentum, confidence and fitness."
Cane is part of a Chiefs team not quite firing this season, yet it remains clearly the best New Zealand conference side and is only one competition point away from the top of the table.
Defence has been an issue - it was even before they leaked five tries to the Rebels in their win in Melbourne last weekend - and as a loose forward Cane is an important part of the defensive mix.
"It's been something we've been trying to work on," he said. "If you look at the stats we've been slowly getting better in some areas but in other areas we're just slipping off. I don't think we're far off but it's definitely frustrating to score some good tries but then leak tries like we have in our last two games particularly.
"Last year the title was won off the back of our defence and we know that's going to have to happen again. It's a priority to fix it, individuals need to improve their tackling but we need to learn to stay in the system and all the little parts that go with it."
The Force, the Chiefs' opposition tonight at Pukekohe's EcoLight Stadium, have the potential to cause an upset after their 11-11 draw against the Reds in Perth last weekend.
"Their game against the Reds was a big improvement, a big step up for them. They closed up their defence a lot and built some pressure [and] the Reds are one of the leading sides - they gave us a hurry up in beating us."
Chiefs team to play the Force at Pukekohe's EcoLight Stadium on Friday, kick-of 7.35pm is: Robbie Robinson, Lelia Masaga, Save Tokula, Bundee Aki, Patrick Osborne, Gareth Anscombe, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Matt Vant Leven, Sam Cane, Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Craig Clarke (c), Ben Afeaki, Hika Elliot, Toby Smith. Reserves: Mahonri Schwalger, Ben Tameifuna, Michael Fitzgerald, Tanerau Latimer, Augustine Pulu, Aaron Cruden, Asaeli Tikoirotuma.
