The majority of the Hurricanes squad for tonight’s Investec Super Rugby match will not have to look too far back for motivation to take on the Lions.
Less than nine months, in fact.
That was the 29th of July at Ellis Park in Johannesburg where the Lions ended the Hurricanes hopes of securing back-to-back Super Rugby titles when they overcame a significant deficit to eventually run out 44-29 victors.
It hurt and still does according to Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd who said earlier this week that the 2017 match, and the nature of the loss, had been talked about when the squad came together on Monday.
The Hurricanes not only want to get one back on the Lions at Westpac Stadium but they are desperate to maintain their increasingly proud home record as well as continue their push to finish top of the New Zealand conference, something that could prove pivotal to the side’s title ambitions.
Boyd has made four changes to the starting side which defeated the Sunwolves 43-15 last week, the majority of which come in the pack.
However, it’s in the backs where he said he and fellow coaches John Plumtree and Jason Holland had the toughest task in selecting the make-up of the side.
That’s because the return of All Blacks outside back Nehe Milner-Skudder from long-term injury has stacked the options available to them – a problem most Super Rugby coaches would surely be envious of.
In the end the in-form Vince Aso, whose spectacular tries have been a highlight of the 2018 campaign, gets a week off, with Boyd adamant he would feature in the coming weeks before the international window as he looks to rotate some of his talent.
The onus is now on the players afforded the chance to go out and perform against the Lions, a side the Hurricanes have never lost to in New Zealand.
One thing the Hurricanes do know is the Lions team will not be content to sit back and play a defence minded game given their desire to use the ball from most areas of the field.
They will, however, be mindful of just how punishing the Hurricanes can be on the counter attack or when they build multiple phases.
While not entirely happy with the way they played against the Sunwolves, the Hurricanes were pleased with how they finished the match, scoring three late tries to secure a bonus point.
That ability to score multiple tries over a short period of time will have opposition teams working hard to find a way of countering it.
Just how the Lions have gone with their plan will be found out tonight.