Dane Coles has perfected the art of being an impact player during his time at the Hurricanes.
In his 29 appearances so far for the franchise, Coles has made only four starts, the last of which was against the Lions way back in 2009, his debut season in the Super Rugby competition.
But the 24-year-old hooker finally gets his chance in the No.2 jersey against the Western Force in Palmerston North on Friday night.
It is a rare opportunity for the dynamic Wellington rake, who has had to bide his time behind All Blacks hooker and Hurricanes captain Andrew Hore, who is on the bench for this week's match.
"It's been a long time between drinks," Coles admitted. "I'm definitely really looking forward to having a run and starting a game. It's been a lot of bench time so I'm definitely looking forward to starting.
"It's a big opportunity and one that might not come for the rest of the year so I'm going to take it."
Coles came into the season knowing his starting opportunities would be limited and said it was simply a case of being patient.
"You can't dwell on that. You've just got to take your chance. I was happy to come off the bench," he said. "There's no point in sulking about it. You've just got to do what's best for the team."
But Coles, who has committed to a further two years with Wellington but has yet to decide on his Super Rugby future beyond this year, has been accruing some decent minutes off the bench this season as coach Mark Hammett has opted to bring Hore off anywhere between the 50-60 minute mark in matches.
While it has not always sat well with his skipper, Hammett said that - and the fact he is on the bench this week - was all part of managing Hore's workload, particularly with the World Cup just around the corner.
"It was time to give Colesy a run. He's been sitting on that bench for a long time and Horey and I had talked right at the beginning of last July that I can't run him out every game," explained Hammett.
"We made a commitment to the All Blacks selectors that for them to win that trophy was about the management of the All Blacks in our squad."
"All the other boys - Ma'a, Conrad, Piri, and Hosea – have had a couple of weeks off due to injury whereas Horey, the good old battler, has been there week in week out."
"It's always a difficult one particularly when you've been the heart and soul in that position and you're an 80-minute man."
"I realise there is a frustration around that but he will be fine and he knows what we're doing is best for the team and hopefully what's best for him."
In what could be a further nod to the future, Victor Vito has been handed the captain's armband for Friday night's game.
"I still feel like I'm trying to earn my stripes," the No.8 said. "But to get called on to lead the team, you can't really hide away from it. You've got to take it with two hands and do the best you can."
"If the boys call you a leader you might as well take the reins and run with it."
Vito, who has captained the New Zealand Under-19s and