Christian Lealiifano is unfazed by the finals equation, his uncertain future in Super Rugby and the challenge of stopping the runaway Australian conference leaders on Saturday night.
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But it shouldn't come as a surprise. Lealiifano knows how to handle distractions, just like he did almost exactly 12 months ago when he made his comeback from leukaemia in a finals clash in Canberra.
So much has changed in the past 12 months. But so much remains the same, and that's why the unflappable ACT Brumbies leader is happy to delay a decision on his future until after the Super Rugby season ends.
The Brumbies are hopeful Lealiifano will sign a one-year contract extension, but there is still the outside possibility the inspirational co-captain's Brumbies career could end against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney.
"It's something you've just got to manage and I've done it through my whole career," Lealiifano said when asked if his contract situation was a distraction.
"As I've got older it's just been about trying to train each day and focus on playing. As you get older, it gets a bit harder to think about whether you want to leave or not.
"For that, it's been difficult. Thinking about those times, thinking if it's going to be the last or not whereas the other [decisions in the past] have been whether I want to go or not.
"I wouldn't say it's a distraction, but a difficult one. I'm hopeful of getting it done before I go to Japan [after the Super Rugby season]. Just so I know what I'll be doing, so hopefully in the next month if we make it through.
"It's pretty cool to think about the journey [over the past year]. I'm just grateful I'm here and fully fit, probably the fittest I've been through the time. It was tough going this time last year, to be here now is really, really special."
The Brumbies are "quietly confident" Lealiifano will stay in the capital, with the lure of a World Cup year also set to be a factor in the flyhalf's decision.
Lealiifano's former Brumbies playmaker partner Matt Toomua has told the club he won't return to Canberra when he resumes his Australian career, with the 28-year-old set to join the Melbourne Rebels.
That makes the retention of Lealiifano even more important but if it is his last game, it's equally as important to make sure the Brumbies beat the Waratahs to ensure one of the club's greats finishes on a high.
The Brumbies need to get a bonus-point win against the dangerous Waratahs and then rely on favourable results in two other games to be any chance of sneaking into the top eight.
The Brumbies will be hoping the Melbourne Rebels lose by more than seven points against the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday afternoon and then the Durban Sharks losing against the Argentina Jaguares on Sunday morning.
"It would really, really enjoyable if we could steal [a win] on their home ground," Lealiifano said of the game against the Waratahs.
"They got one down here against us [earlier this year] which is etched in our minds. We haven't talked about finals at all, we're just preparing like it's the last regular-season game and whatever happens, happens.
"There are guys we've farewelled earlier in the week, which is always sad at this time of year. But to understand how far this group has come and how special this group is, it's only fair to put in a performance for ourselves more than anyone else."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 19
Saturday: NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies at Allianz Stadium, 7.45pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports.
Brumbies: 15. Tom Banks, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Kyle Godwin, 11. Andy Muirhead, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 9. Joe Powell, 8. Isi Naisarani, 7. David Pocock, 6. Blake Enever, 5. Richie Arnold, 4. Rory Arnold, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Folau Faingaa, 1. Scott Sio. Reserves: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. Nic Mayhew, 18. Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin, 19. Sam Carter, 20. Lachlan McCaffrey, 21. Matt Lucas, 22. Wharenui Hawera, 23. Lausii Taliauli.
Waratahs: 15. Israel Folau, 14. Cam Clark, 13. Curtis Rona, 12. Kurtley Beale, 11. Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10. Bernard Foley (c), 9. Nick Phipps, 8. Michael Wells, 7. Will Miller, 6. Ned Hanigan, 5. Rob Simmons, 4. Jed Holloway, 3. Sekope Kepu, 2. Damien Fitzpatrick, 1. Tom Robertson. Reserves: 16. Tolu Latu, 17. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18. Paddy Ryan, 19. Tom Staniforth, 20. Brad Wilkin, 21. Jake Gordon, 22. Bryce Hegarty, 23. Alex Newsome.
