Bring back the big guns - that is the indication out of the Hurricanes' camp as they look to ward off any complacency created by their six-match winning start to 2015 Super Rugby.
"I think you can probably expect some guys might come back in to it," Hurricanes forwards coach John Plumtree said when asked about the team's next match against the Stormers in Wellington on Friday.
"We have a lot of respect for the Stormers. They've been a top side for a long time and I know a lot of them."
Plumtree, who previously coached the Sharks in South Africa, expects influential loose forwards Duane Vermeulen and Michael Rhodes to return to a highly motivated Stormers pack after their 39-21 loss to the Highlanders in Dunedin.
"They will be hurting after what happened to them last week and we expect them to respond positively in terms of intensity and everything will go up another few notches this week," he said. "Their pack is a really good pack, they are a typical South African side, very physical, very blunt, so we have to step up our D [defence]."
The Hurricanes rested All Blacks backs Beauden Barrett and Julian Savea, as well as prop Ben Franks and hooker Dane Coles, for their 36-12 win over the Melbourne Rebels.
With a second bye week following the Stormers game, the Hurricanes have little reason to rest anyone as they look to keep their winning momentum going.
"The boys are enjoying themselves because winning is way better than losing," Plumtree said. "But every week there is something to fix, every week is not perfect. We are looking to improve the whole time.
"For us it's a case of doing our reviews and getting everything in place and improving what we are doing. There is still plenty to work on."
Though winning created expectation, Plumtree said that sort of pressure should not really apply until teams reached the playoffs.
"When it comes finals time, if it comes for us, obviously there will be conversations around that, but this group hasn't been in a final for a long time and still have to collect another four or five wins before we can start getting too excited.
"That's a long way away but if that does happen, I guess we'll talk about the importance of big players having to step up in that arena."
The team's winning run had created a lot of healthy competition and the players were clearly enjoying the environment, he said.
"Everyone wants to be part of a winning team. We include everyone [in the squad] on game day, we try to keep that atmosphere and the environment here is fantastic."
Loose forward Brad Shields echoed his coach's sentiments.
"No-one wants to lose and when you are winning everything's a little easier turning up Monday. Everyone has a spring in their step."
Shields believed the squad was benefiting from being together for the past three or four years under former coach Mark Hammett.
"It makes a huge difference.
"We know how each other play, we know what makes each other tick. We're not afraid to say something if something's not right," he said. "That's what makes a team a great team, not a good team.Those years with Hammer, he sowed the seeds and we are coming through now. You see that on the field, we are a lot closer and it's coming through in the results.
"Hopefully it keeps going."
