"Just training with all the big dogs at this level has been beneficial. It's not as physical now as it was at the start of the season and I'm enjoying it.
"Now I've got a start I would like to have a few more carries as a lot of my game time in recent weeks has been spent cleaning out," Flanders explained.
Flanders admitted the Magpies haven't done a lot of research on the Premiership's defending champions.
"We know they will be very accurate. If you give them the ball they will hold on to it for long periods."
Flanders is looking forward to taking on his Baby Blacks captain and openside flanker Tom Christie.
"Both teams hadn't been named when he texted me earlier in the week to see if I was playing. I'm sure he will be in their mix somewhere."
Naturally Flanders was stoked to receive the Graeme Lowe Award.
"Some big names have won it over the years," he said referring to the likes of former All Blacks Bryn Evans in 2006, Israel Dagg in 2007, Zac Guildford in 2008 and Brodie Retallick in 2011.
The award is named after former union patron Graeme Lowe, who died in 2012.
He had sponsored the union for more than 30 years.
With 10 changes to his starting XV used in Wednesday night's 55-41 win against Northland, Magpies head coach Mark Ozich could be accused of throwing the towel in before kick off tomorrow.
But he stressed this wasn't the case.
"Five players have had a lot of minutes and we have to look after their respite at the back of four Storm Week," Ozich said.
He was referring to regular first stringers co-captain and loosie Gareth Evans, prop Ben May, loosie Marino Mikaele-Tu'u and midfielders Pasqualle Dunn and Stacey Ili, who have all been rested tomorrow.
"Other guys are getting an opportunity to start against Canterbury and it's important we take an attacking mentality down there. We want to test ourselves."
Flanders, who replaces 2016 and '17 Baby Black Marino Mikaele-Tu'u at No 8, winger Mikaele Tu'u and halfback Folau Fakatava will all be making their first starting XV appearances for the Magpies at cup level after earlier having minutes off the pine while centre Shae Tucker will make his debut as a starter.
Should loosie Solomone Funaki and outside back Danny Toala get game time off the bench it will be their first class debuts.
If Ozich slips the collar off Toala he will become the fifth member of last year's national title-winning Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV to play for the Magpies this season.
There will be plenty of interest in how halfback Fakatava and first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie cope as starters for the first time at this level.
Combine Flanders with this pair and it will be the youngest 8, 9, 10 combo fielded in Magpies history.
If the Magpies can maintain the intensity produced during the second half of Wednesday night's 55-41 win against Northland they have the potential to return home with two competition points at least.
However their defence will need to improve.
If they miss 29 tackles like they did against the Taniwha they could lose by 30 points.
Ozich and his assistant Josh Syms must have been impressed with the Magpies ball retention against Northland when just five turnovers were conceded.
Teams for the 2.05pm kick off at AMI Stadium, Christchurch, tomorrow:
■HAWKE'S BAY MAGPIES: JJ Taulagi, Jonah Lowe, Shae Tucker, Sasa Tofilau, Michael Buckley, Lincoln McClutchie, Folau Fakatava, Devan Flanders, Josh Kaifa, Geoff Cridge, Sam Ulufonua, Tom Parsons (c), Joe Apikotoa, Ben Power, Jason Long.
Substitutes, forwards: Kianu Kereru-Symes, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Mark Braidwood, Michael Allardice, Solomone Funaki.
Backs: Brad Weber, Danny Toala, Mason Emerson.
■CANTERBURY (likely): George Bridge, Josh McKay, Braydon Ennor, Phil Burleigh (vice-captain), Caleb Makene, Brett Cameron, Mitchell Drummond, (c), Reed Prinsep, Billy Harmon, Tom Sanders, Mitchell Dunshea, Luke Romano (vice-captain), Chris King, Brodie McAlister, Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Substitutes, forwards: Nic Souchon, Alex Hodgman, Samu Tawake, Hamish Dalzell, Tom Christie.
Backs: Connor Collins, Beard, Ngane Punivai.
