All Blacks and Blues lock Anthony Boric has been around the scene long enough to appreciate the run of consistency the Super Rugby leaders have enjoyed this year.
On the eve of one of their tougher assignments of the year, against the Reds in Brisbane, Boric is recovered from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for two games, and looking forward to the run down to the play-offs – something the Blues could secure with a win on Friday.
But all things considered whatever the season holds it has been the stopping the rot of up and down performances that has most marked the Blues' campaign.
And with 52 appearances for the side beside his name it has made life easier for the World Cup squad locking contender.
"It is certainly a lot more enjoyable. You look forward to coming to training on Monday and everything seems a lot easier. The coaches are doing a great job with our game plan. It's going well but we don't want to get complacent, we want to keep that edge about us," he said.
"There's no real danger of that this week against the Reds, it's enjoyable to be part of it for sure."
The confidence that comes with success has also been borne out in game situations and the players had talked about the side winning games that in past years they would have lost.
"I think we're sticking to our game plan more as a team, not playing as individuals. That's been the big change I think.
"The past couple of games as well we've been a lot more resolute on defence and we haven't let in as many tries as we have in the past. I think those two things are pretty important for us, defence and just holding onto the ball and play as team."
Boric said although frustrated by his injury the two-week break had re-energised him and he was looking forward to a big finish during the last six weeks of the competition.
"The Reds will be tough on Friday but hopefully it is going to be a dry track so it will be a bit of a different style to what we have played in the past few weeks so we're expecting it to be a lot of running and I guess we really need to shut them down and stop them playing their natural game and try to keep them pretty tight," he said.
"They've got a really solid lineout and like all teams they base a lot of their strikes off their lineout and it is really important for us to try and shut that down and compete as best we can.
"We've been a wee bit disappointed with how our lineout has gone over the last few weeks, we've lost a few so we've really been putting a bit of work into it this week and hopefully we'll make amends for that on Friday," he said.