Much touted as the answer to the Blues' issues at first five-eighths, All Black and twice World Player of the Year Beauden Barrett will make his debut at fullback against the Hurricanes on Sunday.
Call it a precautionary move perhaps as the Blues look to minimise the chances of their asset being the subject of extra attention from his old teammates at Eden Park.
Coach Leon MacDonald used a horses-for-courses approach to the issue and it may be something that caught the Hurricanes by surprise. It has certainly caught Blues fans that way.
"Beauden has fitted into our team seamlessly and has come in great shape and with real enthusiasm. This week we felt that he can best help us at fullback being his first game for the Blues with a mindset of graduating into the first five-eighths role," MacDonald said.
"Otere [Black] was one of our best players earlier in the season and guided us well around the field, while Caleb [Clarke] has been outstanding since returning from the Sevens.
"Picking the loose forwards was one of the hardest jobs where we are blessed to have so many quality players.
"The team is naturally excited. This is a special occasion for us all – and something none of us expected, to be playing so soon and in front of our fans.
"It will be the same for the Hurricanes and I hope we can produce a real spectacle," he said.
Earlier season form was irrelevant now but the side was aware that their hard work during the week could give them confidence and allow them to focus on their execution on Sunday afternoon.
"This is going to be a monumental 10 weeks of local derby battles which will be a battle of attrition, so we will need our whole squad if we are to realise our goals," he said.
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland found himself facing similar selection dilemmas to MacDonald.
The Hurricanes had few injuries and players were desperate to play.
A feature for the Hurricanes was having All Black Ardie Savea back in the mix and while he would come off the bench it was a measure of his progress and he was excited to get back into action.
"The team that wins the physical battle and is the most disciplined in the heat of the battle will go a long way to getting a result," he said.
It had always been intended to have him coming off the bench and they were approaching where he would play with some flexibility whether on the side of the scrum or off the back.
Holland said Jordie Barrett had never featured in selection as he was suffering an unstable shoulder. They would not be risking him while he was concentrating on getting through his rehabilitation.
Blues: 1.Alex Hodgman, 2.James Parsons, 3.Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 4.Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 5.Josh Goodhue, 6.Tom Robinson, 7.Blake Gibson, 8.Hoskins Sotutu, 9.Sam Nock, 10.Otere Black, 11.Caleb Clarke, 12.TJ Faiane, 13.Rieko Ioane, 14.Mark Telea, 15.Beauden Barrett.
Substitutes: 16.Kurt Eklund, 17.Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18.Marcel Renata, 19.Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20.Dalton Papalii, 21.Finlay Christie, 22.Harry Plummer, 23.Matt Duffie.
Hurricanes: 1.Fraser Armstrong, 2.Dane Coles (co-captain), 3.Tyrel Lomax, 4.James Blackwell, 5.Scott Scrafton, 6.Reed Prinsep, 7.Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8.Gareth Evans, 9.TJ Perenara (co-captain), 10.Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11.Ben Lam, 12.Ngani Laumape, 13.Vince Aso, 14.Wes Goosen, 15.Chase Tiatia.
Substitutes: 16.Asafo Aumua, 17.Tevita Mafileo, 18.Alex Fidow, 19.Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20.Vaea Fifita, 21.Ardie Savea, 22.Jamie Booth, 23.Billy Proctor.