Auckland: Michael Wells has vowed to learn fast in his ACT Brumbies starting debut because the back-rower knows his All Blacks opponents will "sit you on your arse" if they sense blood in the water.
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Eight months after walking away from his Olympic Games ambitions in Auckland, Wells will return to New Zealand for the biggest moment of his Super Rugby transition on Friday night.
The former Australian sevens player has been called on to help fill the void left by injured trio David Pocock, Jordan Smiler and Ben Hyne as the Brumbies fight to keep their finals hopes on track.
Wells will be thrown in the deep end against the Auckland Blues' Test duo of Jerome Kaino and Steven Luatua at the Eden Park graveyard.
But it's a challenge he's excited to take on in just his fifth Super Rugby game as he establishes himself as a role-player in the Brumbies squad.
"You know what you're going to get when you're playing against guys like Kaino and Luatua," Wells said.
"You're not going to get a chance to work your way into a game because if you try to they'll probably sit you on your arse pretty quickly.
"That's why I want to play rugby, I want to play against the best in the world and that's the sort of challenge I love. You either sink or swim pretty fast, and with those blokes you find out in the first minute."
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham tried to lure Wells to Canberra three years ago when he finished his stint with the Australian under-20s side.
However, Wells decided to take a path that led him down the sevens road to the Rio Olympics, and he played in the crucial tournament in Auckland in November that secured Australia's spot at the Games.
The qualifying tournament doubled as Wells' farewell to the shortened format of the game and just days after booking a ticket to Rio, the 23-year-old arrived in Canberra to start his Brumbies career.
He made his Super Rugby debut against the Cape Town Stormers in March but was on the field just a handful of minutes before he was subbed off in a line-up reshuffle after hooker Josh Mann-Rea was punished with a red card.
Wells' parents Tim and Jenny have travelled to all of his five Super Rugby appearances so far, even the trek to South Africa for a few minutes on the field.
They'll be in Auckland for the Blues' clash and Wells says he has never doubted his decision to choose the Brumbies over a potential Olympic medal pursuit.
"My last time in New Zealand was that Olympic qualifier, so hopefully I can come away with similar success and a win [against the Blues]," Wells said.
"It's going full circle for me because that was the start of my Brumbies journey.
"I think I vindicated the decision when I got my first cap, that was a bit of closure knowing that it was right. This will be my fifth cap and that's more than I ever expected this year.
"I've moved passed was it a good or bad decision to choose the Brumbies. I'm happy where I am and it's good that I'm getting my first start."
Tuggeranong Vikings back-rower Dean Oakman-Hunt is also travelling with the Brumbies as a back-up for the injury-depleted forward pack.
Hyne had surgery on Thursday to repair damaged ankle ligaments while Pocock could return from a fractured cheekbone as early as next week and Jordan Smiler is no longer in a knee brace.
The Brumbies are at the top of the Australian conference but their win tally is the only thing keeping them ahead of the NSW Waratahs in the battle for a play-off berth.
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 16
Friday: Auckland Blues v ACT Brumbies at Eden Park, 5.30pm AEST. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2.
Brumbies team: 15. Aidan Toua, 14. Nigel Ah Wong, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Matt Toomua, 11. James Dargaville, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 9. Tomas Cubelli, 8 Michael Wells, 7. Jarrad Butler, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Rory Arnold, 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Scott Sio. Reserves: 16. Josh Mann-Rea, 17. Allan Alaalatoa, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Blake Enever, 20. Tom Staniforth, 21. Joe Powell, 22. Andrew Smith, 23. Lausii Taliauli.
Blues team: 15. Melani Nanai, 14. Matt Duffie, 13. Male Sa'u/Matt Vaega, 12. Piers Francis, 11. Tevita Li, 10. Ihaia West, 9. Bryn Hall, 8. Steven Luatua, 7. Kara Pryor, 6. Jerome Kaino, 5. Josh Bekhuis/Scott Scrafton, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 3. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2. James Parsons, 1. Sam Prattley. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Nic Mayhew, Sione Mafileo, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Blake Gibson, Billy Guyton, Matt Vaega/Michael Little, Lolagi Visinia.
