He would like to keep it that way.
To be fair, the 20-year-old has played only the one game in the blue and gold.
But he impressed in the 31-21 win against Southland in Dunedin on Saturday.
He got his opportunity in the wake of Cameron Millar’s season-ending injury. Back-up first five and regular fullback Sam Gilbert was also sidelined with an hamstring complaint.
Faleafaga is a different type of player to Millar. He is a run-first, kick-second No 10.
And the improvements he has made to his defensive game mean he can easily slot into second five as well.
He played there for the New Zealand under-20s and he is keeping his options open.
But he made his name at first five for St Peter’s College and sees himself as a No 10.
The "Auckland boy" popped up on the Highlanders radar in 2021 and they signed him on a development deal with an eye to the future.
That future is nearly here. He did not get a run for the Highlanders this season but he looked well-equipped at NPC level during his debut. And the feedback from the Otago coaching staff lends weight to that argument.
"The feedback was great," Faleafaga said.
"They asked me to go out there and be myself and enjoy it and things will start to fall into place for us as a team.
"It was pretty cool."
"Fingers crossed I can do well in the NPC and get a crack [with the Highlanders] next year."
Faleafaga has worked hard at his defensive game.
"At schoolboy footy my defence was really weak around that area of the game. So I’ve just been trying to improve each game.
"And being in an environment with great coaches who can help me out with that has been really cool. So, yeah, I’m really enjoying the contact side of things. I love it."
The next challenge is against Bay of Plenty in Rotorua this afternoon.
Faleafaga hopes to unleash more of his running brand of rugby and keep his unbeaten record with Otago intact.
Otago desperately need another win, too. They started with three consecutive losses before the breakthrough win against Southland.
They have still got to play the likes of Taranaki and Waikato, and North Harbour and Northland could be a tricky opponents as well, and they lost to Counties-Manukau last year and play them in their final round-robin match.
The season could still tip in either direction.
"We’ve just got to stick to what we know and what we can control," Faleafaga said when asked what the team was focused on heading into the Bay of Plenty game.
That means doing "the little things right" and executing the game plan.
Otago has made minimal changes for the match. Jake Te Hiwi will start at second five in place of Jack Leslie, who drops out of the game day 23.
And up front, prop Abraham Pole will start ahead of Rohan Wingham, who moves to the bench.
NPC
Rotorua, 2.05pm today
Otago: Finn Hurley, Josh Whaanga, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Jake Te Hiwi, Jona Nareki, Ajay Faleafaga, James Arscott, Christian Lio-Willie, Sean Withy (captain), Tom Sanders, Josh Dickson, Fabian Holland, Jermaine Ainsley, Henry Bell, Abraham Pole. Reserves: Ricky Jackson, Rohan Wingham, Saula Ma’u, Joshua Hill, Sam Fischli, Nathan Hastie, John Tapueluelu, Jeremiah Asi.
Bay of Plenty (possible): Cole Forbes, Codemeru Vai, Melani Nanai, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Lucas Cashmore, Richard Judd, Penitoa Finau, Veveni Lasaqa, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Justin Sangster, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Benet Kumeroa, Kurt Eklund (captain), Aidan Ross. Reserves: Nathan Vella, Josh Bartlett, Pasilio Tosi, Etonia Waqa, Funahashi Ryosuke, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Seamus Bardoul, Wharenui Hawera.
