Irae Simone felt it before he saw it. So he made the call to the ACT Brumbies' doctor, then coach Dan McKellar.
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"I just didn't feel like myself. I felt [the swelling] and called the doctor, I felt strange and I looked strange," Simone said.
"I could tell something was wrong. I looked like one of those oompa loompas. But you just get on with it."
Simone was one of the first Brumbies to face an unexpected mumps battle, which has swept through the team and resulted in the club's headquarters being completely sterilised. Four players, two coaches and staff have since being diagnosed with mumps despite the entire squad being immunised.
Others feeling ill have been put in quarantine, but Simone and Bayley Kuenzle were cleared to fly to New Zealand on Thursday to boost the Brumbies' chance of winning in Hamilton for the first time in 13 years.
Both have been eased back into training after being isolated from their teammates for five days to avoid further infection.
It meant having to watch the Brumbies' one-point loss from home last week, which Simone says has added fuel to his comeback opportunity.
"As soon as I found out I tried to stay away as long as possible. I wasn't ready to start training so I stayed away again because it's not fair on the boys," Simone said.
"It's always hard to watch, but especially if you're at home. It kind of felt like I let the team down. But we swallow that pill, learn from it and make sure we do things better this week."
MORE BRUMBIES NEWS
Simone will return to the inside centre role this week after Len Ikitau was forced to play out of position in a late reshuffle against the Highlanders.
Simone's presence was missed given he has been playing a leading role in helping flyhalf Noah Lolesio make his transition into Super Rugby. Lolesio will start for the fourth time in a row to start his professional career and he's set for a major test against Chiefs veteran Aaron Cruden.
The Chiefs have recalled Cruden and Sam Cane after they were rested from a bonus-point win against the Japan Sunwolves last weekend.
The duo's absence did little to slow the Chiefs' early-season momentum, charging to the best attacking record in the competition.
The Chiefs are the No. 1 ranked team for tries scored in the first three games, while the Brumbies are No. 2.
"They're a dangerous side, but I'm pretty confident if we can individually do our jobs we've got a huge chance of winning.
"They've got some quality All Blacks, but at that is a good opportunity to test ourselves against some world class players."
The Brumbies are desperate for a win after losing for the first time last weekend. Another stumble this week brings them back to the pack, but a win will give them a solid base to launch a finals mission.
Kuenzle rejoins the bench as the back-up playmaker, while Lachlan Lonergan will join an exclusive club when he sits alongside brother Ryan on the bench for his debut match.
Meanwhile, Reesjan Pasitoa will play for the Brumby Runners against a NSW Waratahs A side on Friday afternoon. Darcy Swain will also make his comeback in the game after being ill last week.
SUPER RUGBY ROUND FOUR
Saturday: Waikato Chiefs v ACT Brumbies at Hamilton, 5.05pm.
Brumbies team: 1. James Slipper, 2. Connal McInerney, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Caderyn Neville, 5. Murray Douglas, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Andy Muirhead, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Solomone Kata, 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Nick Frost, 20. Lachlan McCaffrey, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Bayley Kuenzle, 23. Toni Pulu