Blues captain Dalton Papali'i is eagerly anticipating one final showdown - at least, on the Super Rugby stage - with Waratahs opposite Michael Hooper in Friday's quarter-final clash at Auckland's Eden Park.
Off contract at the end of this season, the veteran flanker may play his 141st and final game for his beloved franchise this weekend.
The 31-year-old is reportedly weighing up options in France or Japan, as well as a potential bid to become an Olympian as part of Australia's sevens squad for France next year.
In September, he withdrew from the Australian camp to take a mental health break, but has since indicated he'd be available for selection in new coach Eddie Jones' squad for a bumper upcoming test season that includes the World Cup.
Last weekend, Hooper's hometown farewell in Sydney was spoiled by a shock defeat to the previously winless Moana Pasifika, and Papali'i is aware he will be desperate to make amends.
Papali'i admits he's been an admirer of Hooper's since his days at Auckland's St Kentigerns College.
"He's been one of the most consistent flankers that there has ever been," he said. "That's a credit to him, and the way he prepares himself and the way he trains.
"I don't really know him on a personal level but I know he'd probably be a good bastard."
The 124-test international's duel with his potential All Blacks opposite could be one of the decisive factors in the do-or-die encounter, which the Waratahs will enter as heavy underdogs.
The list time the teams met back in early April, the Sydneysiders were sent home licking their wounds from a 55-21 decimation inflicted on the Blues' home patch.
Papali'i realises limiting Hooper's influence will go a long way towards replicating that come Friday.
"He's their leader," he noted. "They look to him when their backs are against the wall.
"We're not going out there to get him or anything but at the end of the day, he's a massive part of their game plan and their play.
"You just have to take your hat off to a player like that, who's performed week in, week out.
"It's going to be a good matchup against him."
The Blues enter Friday's encounter on the back of an unconvincing victory over the Highlanders, well aware they'll need to raise the bar considerably given the high intensity, high stakes climate of the knockout rounds.
One factor they'll lean on - albeit for likely the final time this season - is their home ground advantage.
The Blues have only lost one game at The Garden this season, dating back to their defeat to the defending champion Crusaders in March.
Papali'i hopes those home comforts and the desperation that comes with the playoffs will provide a recipe for success against the Waratahs, who have traditionally endured a torrid time in Auckland.
Since 1998, the Waratahs have won just once at Eden Park. They're also currently amid an eight-game losing streak to the Blues, which dates to 2015.
"We've always tried to cherish this place and say its a fortess, that when anyone comes here it's going to be a tough match and I think, this year, it has been," he said. "That's something we want to carry on… we never want to lose that.
"This year has been up and down…. the one thing we can always bank on is that we've always stuck in and won games when we've needed to. There have been a few losses but that just comes with it.
"We can take confidence out of that going into this game… we've just got to find a way to win."
The victor of Friday's quarter-final will advance to take on the winner of the Crusaders' clash with Fijian Drua in next weekend's semi-final.
Join Newshub at 7:30pm for live updates of the Blues v Waratahs Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final
