Reaching the Super Rugby final after years of struggle has been a fantastic achievement for the Queensland Reds, but 'Rocket' Rod Davies says finishing the season as runner-up just won't cut the mustard.
From 2004 to 2009 their best result in the Super Rugby was 10th place and the once-mighty Reds brand was at an all-time low.
Finishing fifth after being plagued by injuries in 2010 sparked renewed hope for a return to the glory days but securing a home final against the mighty Crusaders just one season later has meant the Reds have surpassed all expectation.
All expectation but their own, that is.
Davies, a product of Rockhampton, says the team came together under coach Ewen McKenzie determined to restore pride into the Reds' jumper and their mission won't be complete unless they lift the trophy at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
"It wasn't acceptable. We had six or seven years there where it wasn't acceptable," he said.
"With Link (McKenzie) coming into the club and bringing the new culture, it definitely turned it around."
"Every time you pull the jersey on you're playing for your state. There's pride in the jumper and it's definitely a great honour running out there for Queensland."
"It's been our goal for the last two years now to go all the way. To pull up short and come second is not going to be any mustard, so we're going to have to go all the way and do it for the fans."
Davies, a former Brisbane Broncos squad member, will hit the field for the biggest game of his life in a rich vein of form and unshakeable confidence after becoming the first player in Queensland's Super Rugby history to score a hat-trick.
He was all pace, power and precision line-running in the semi-final win over the Blues, combining with scintillating playmaker Quade Cooper in some truly unstoppable backline play.
Davies says he'll be staying tight on Cooper's shoulder knowing his five-eighth will do the rest, but knows that he can expect extra attention after his vintage semi-final display.
"I probably wasn't marked as heavy last week. You've got guys like Digby (Ioane) getting marked heavily, but this week they'll probably come at me a bit harder," he said.
"Seeing Quade and the kind of stuff he does is unreal. That definitely gives me confidence to play."
"You want to just hang around him and get some easy ball. When you're around him you're definitely going to be in the points."