Dagg (21) has been in splendid form this season for the Highlanders and will be one of the key men when the southern side takes on a fired-up and desperate Brumbies side in Canberra tonight.
With Dagg you get the feeling it is not if, but when, he will become an All Black.
But talk to the laid-back custodian and it is clear the All Blacks - and getting the call from Graham Henry - are not on his mind.
"I've not heard from anyone so it's not something to really think about a lot. I just have to wait for my opportunity and if it comes, it comes. If it doesn't happen then it wasn't meant to be," Dagg said.
"But I've just decided to focus on the Highlanders and hopefully reap the rewards from that. I've still got plenty of things to work on and battle through.
"I think I've been going OK. A couple of games have been up and down. There are always things you are going to have to improve on. I think I need to stay in the game for 80 minutes, show a bit more consistency."
Dagg must be in the picture for an All Black call-up but he will have to get past some talented footballers - Mils Muliaina and Cory Jane head the list - if that is to happen. If he does not get the call, there may be consolation in a New Zealand Maori jersey.
Dagg is from the Ngati Kahungungu ki Heretaunga tribe, in Hawkes Bay, and said he would love to play for New Zealand Maori.
"That would be a bonus. They have all these tribal games back home in Hawkes Bay but I've never played in any of them."
Dagg has added goal-kicking to his bag of tricks and has been knocking them over from all angles, although he handed the responsibility back to Mathew Berquist last weekend.
"It's always something which I've tried at practice. But I don't kick for Hawkes Bay and it was something I thought would be another string to the bow."
Berquist will start as goal-kicker tonight.
Dagg should still have his hands full, as the Brumbies will be pushing hard to stay in the play-offs picture.
"They are going to be desperate to put on a good performance, and with those guys like [flanker George] Smith playing their last games, the crowd is going to be really in behind them."
Smith has recovered from a shoulder injury and will wear the familiar No 7 jersey, but centre Stirling Mortlock has been denied an appearance in his farewell match.
He failed to get through a fitness test yesterday morning and Ed Stubbs will take up a place on the bench.
Mortlock said he was disappointed to miss out on what was to be his last match at Canberra Stadium but felt the team would still perform well without him.
The Brumbies will be desperate to win tonight, but then so were the Waratahs last week, and they were given a thumping by the Highlanders.
Since their chance of making the semifinals disappeared after the forgettable Force match, the Highlanders appear to have changed their mindset - they are moving the ball more and backing themselves - and have improved.
They need to carry on from the performance last week - when they produced good body position, strong defence and few errors - and to stop the Brumbies getting a roll-on on their home track.
The weather in the Australian capital is expected to be cold but fine.
HIGHLANDERS v BRUMBIES
Venue: Canberra Stadium
Time: 9.40pm tonight
Referee: Chris Pollock
Odds: Brumbies $1.20, Highlanders $4.20
• Previous Matches
2009: Dunedin: 33-31: Brumbies
2008: Canberra: 22-20: Brumbies
2007: Dunedin: 29-20: Brumbies
2006: Canberra: 28-26: Highlanders
2005: Dunedin: 19-18: Highlanders
