They come from different back grounds but share a common goal - the success of the Chiefs in 2012.
This year, the two men were named by Chiefs coach Dave Rennie to share the captaincy duties.
It's the first time a New Zealand Super Rugby team has taken the novel approach. While some in the rugby industry have looked sideways at the concept - the two men are excited about the prospect.
Although questions remain about who would lead the team out or who has the "c" beside his name come game day.
Some questions had been answered, Messam told the Bay of Plenty Times, for example, who gets the best room when the team is on tour.
"I think I might have to put the senior rank to work. I think I have a few games behind me there."
Clarke said although he was a year older than Messam, he wasn't going to argue with him, because he respected his elders.
"He's a bit grumpy sometimes he can be a bit of an old koro."
With the bed situation sorted, Messam said he was a fair man and willing to compromise on certain issues.
"He will do the media and the coin toss because Clarky is a pretty good tosser so he can to that for the first part of the season."
Messam, born in Blenheim but raised in Rotorua where he attended Rotorua Boys' High School, is a current All Black (nine caps), captained the New Zealand Maori team, has 79 caps for the Chiefs and is the Waikato captain.
The 27-year-old can cover all three loose-forward positions, weighs 108kg, is 1.90m tall and has scored 90 points for the Chiefs.
He said it was always an honour to be given a leadership role within a team and had no problem sharing it with Clarke.
"I guess for me and Clarky there is a little more responsibility being captains and I've worked with Clarky before a couple of times.
"Nothings really changing for us."
While Clarke was born in the Wairarapa but grew up in Poverty Bay where he attended Gisborne Boys' High School alongside All Black winger Hosea Gear.
The 2m tall lock has played school boy rugby for New Zealand - before the Chiefs he spent three seasons playing for Canterbury as well as one season with the Crusaders. In 2008 he had a stint with the Hurricanes, before being drafted to the Chiefs in 2009 and was of their most consistent performers en route to the Super 14 final against the Bulls, earning a recall to the Hamilton-based operation for 2010.
The 28-year-old was named Taranaki captain for the 2010 ITM Cup. He returned to the Chiefs and to Taranaki in 2011 and lifted the Ranfurly Shield on behalf of his team and led them to third place on the ITM Cup Premiership points table.
Clarke said it had been a couple of lean years for the Chiefs but he felt confident the team were at a point in their history where they could achieve something special.
"With the way we've shaped up this preseason, with fresh faces and new regime, the work we've been doing.
" It's all aligned for us to have a good season.
"Especially in the [tight five]. We've got guys that have been picked because they're workers. I think if you look around the front rows of the country. Our front row is pretty handy."
The Chiefs will play three pre-season games, their first against the Rebels in Australia on February 3, followed by the Highlanders in Queenstown on February 10 and Hurricanes on February 17, in Taupo. Their season-opener is against the Highlanders on February 25, at Waikato Stadium.