Highlanders captain Ash Dixon provided a timely reminder as Super Rugby Aotearoa races to its conclusion of what it has meant in the overall scheme of life in New Zealand.
While some members of his side had been involved in potentially distracting bye week incident in Queenstown, and knowing that a loss on Sunday to the Blues in Dunedin would rule them out of contesting a top place, Dixon said there was more at play than results in the competition.
"We've been given an opportunity after a pandemic that affected the world.
“And we're the only country that really gets to play in front of our fans and to enjoy what we do and love.
"I feel like we've given the people of Dunedin hope and inspiration. I don't know what is going to happen in the competition next year or what it is going to look like in the future, but I know our boys are really grateful to play at Forsyth Barr to packed crowds and to just get to enjoy the moment and make memories out there that can last throughout the year," he said.
Dixon said the bye had been welcomed by the Highlanders who were still feeling good when coming back together as a result of their pre-bye win over the Chiefs.
He said the players involved in an incident in Queenstown on their free weekend had been spoken to in a team meeting and the attitude of the side in regard to their place in the community had been addressed.
"These are young guys, we've all made mistakes. I was 20 once and I wasn't perfect so I'm not going to shove them to the side. They're my teammates so I'm going to help them and support them. They made a mistake and they know that but we can fix that by the way we turn up at the weekend," he said.
There had been some repercussions for players concerned and it was a case of living and learning and now turning their attention toward playing the Blues on Sunday.
The game with the Blues always had the extra competitiveness due to it also being for the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy.
Dixon said the longer he had been involved with the tea, the more the trophy's importance had an impact on him. When they heard from players who had been coached by him, they talked not only about what he did as a coach, but also what he did for the team and his love for the game.
"We use that as a bit of inspiration. Obviously we didn't get to meet him or be coached by him but the way they speak about him, half of them are quite teary and get really emotional about it.
"We've had it [the trophy] for eight years now and that's not been by surprise, there's been some pretty big efforts against some mighty Blues teams and we've had to dig really deep and there's no surprises this weekend, we're going to have to but we're prepared for it.
"We've just got to go out there and enjoy it and play the rugby we can," he said.
It would be a case of nailing more of the key moments in the game than the Blues.
"Some are crucial and some aren't but I guess the pleasing thing is we got one right against the Chiefs and that was crucial, we nailed that moment whereas two weeks ago we didn't. We're going to have more moments out there and it could be exactly the same.
"We're back at home, with a dry ball, no wind and with our fans so it should be good," he said.
The Blues were dangerous across the park and had players with x-factor spread through the side.
"If you give them too much space like we did last time they tore us to shreds, so I guess it's taking away their space as early as we can, applying some pressure. I think in this competition it is the teams that can apply pressure throughout the game come out the back in that last 20 and it shows that guys that come off the bench they can really get into their game," he said.