It doesn't matter how flash the body of a V8 Supercar is - its performance comes down to the engine and the driver.
The same could be said about the Chiefs - they have all the bells and whistles with the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui and Aaron Cruden. They have a competent drivers in the form of Dave Rennie and Wayne Smith.
Now it appears they have the engine to go with it - in the form of 106kg hooker Mahonri Schwalger.
The Samoan captain hasn't got as much press as SBW and Cruden but that's how he likes it.
The quietly but seriously spoken 33-year-old has been going about his business getting fit and ready for this year's season after a busy Rugby World Cup campaign.
"I had an operation after the World Cup and I'm still having to do my rehab and get back into it. I had a clean out of my knee ... it's getting right and I'm looking forward to the season."
It's Schwalger's first season at the Chiefs and he's hoping to bring a bit of steel to the tight five.
"The Chiefs have always had a pretty good forward pack. I think now they have a lot of young guys and they have mixed that with some experience to help them make the right decisions.
"I've just got to help [the young guys] buy into what they are doing and it has all got to come down to the forward pack [doing their job]," Schwalger said.
The 1.8m hooker, who has 28 Super Rugby caps, was born in Apia, Samoa, and moved to New Zealand when he was young and attended Waitakere College in Auckland.
He made his provincial debut in 1999 for Hawke's Bay against Waikato and went on to play 44 matches for the province.
Schwalger moved to Wellington for the 2004 provincial season and his solid showing for the Lions saw him drafted to the Highlanders for the 2005 Super 12 season. He made five appearances for the High-landers, serving as back-up at hooker to All Black Anton Oliver.
After two more seasons with Wellington, Schwalger was selected in the Hurricanes for the 2007 Super 14 season. For the Hurricanes, he made nine appearances, including one start.
In 2007, Schwalger moved to Europe, signing with the Llanelli Scarlets in the Magners League.
After two seasons with the Scarlets, he signed with the Sale Sharks in the Guinness Premiership. Schwalger left Sale at the start of the 2010-11 season to return to New Zealand and signed with Taranaki for the remainder of the 2010 ITM Cup.
After a solid performance with Taranaki, Schwalger earned a Super Rugby contract with the Highlanders. He made 12 appearances, including five starts over the course of the 2011 season.
After the Highlanders signed Andrew Hore, Schwalger was surplus to requirements for 2012 and signed with the Chiefs for this season.
Schwalger made his international debut in 2000 against Wales and has 36 test caps. He has been to three Rugby World Cups and was Samoa's captain at last year's event.
The hard-working hooker said it was important for him to step up this season.
"We've got really flash backs, with Sonny Bill and so on. To get these guys to play their best, we've got to have a good forward pack. So that's what I've been trying to work on."
Schwalger said his knee wasn't 100 per cent but it wasn't too far off and should be ready to rumble come the season opener against the Highlanders at Waikato Stadium on February 25.