Hurricanes winger Nehe Milner-Skudder is bracing for a crucial next few weeks if he wants to get his spot back in the All Blacks.
He played just his second game back after shoulder surgery in the Hurricanes win over the Lions on Saturday, and is wary he's probably some way down the current pecking order.
Loyalty traditionally goes a long way when it comes to All Black selection. Steve Hansen has a history of rewarding those who've served him well, and it appears that may work for Milner-Skudder in 2018.
"I haven't really looked too far ahead of myself," he tells Newshub when asked if he's ready for international rugby.
The Manawatu product's hardly had time to find his feet in his two games for the Hurricanes since returning from a shoulder injury.
He's well aware that the next few weeks will be pivotal to his chances of returning to the national set up.
"Hopefully by then I'll have a few more games and more minutes under my belt and the confidence will be up there - ready to go if that is the case".
All the talk lately has been about his Hurricane teammate Ben Lam. While it seems the bustling winger may have to wait for an All Black call up, he's already received a glowing endorsement from Milner-Skudder.
"It'd be tough to leave him out. Oviously I'm not a selector, but I think his form at the moment definitely warrants it."
Lam is currently Super Rugby's leading try scorer. As for Milner-Skudder, he's just happy to be back on the pitch, a sentiment shared by his team.
"You get a bit excited when he gets the ball and hope to see his feet get going, so I genuinely think the more rugby Nehe plays, the better he gets," says assistant coach Jason Holland.
Milner-Skudder's got two more chances to impress the All Black selectors before they name their first squad of the test season, as next month's series against France looming.
Past form in the black jersey will likely see him selected - if he can stay fit.
Newshub.