Fritz Lee has never backed away from a challenge and it doesn't appear he will be doing so any time soon.
The Chiefs Rookie of the Year had a stellar season last year - constantly wreaking havoc off the back of the scrum and keeping the opposition physiotherapists busy with his spine jarring tackles.
Lee knows this season isn't going to be easy, with plenty of footage of the 106kg, 1.9m tall giant gracing every defensive coaches' laptop.
He is bound to find things tough but the quietly spoken No 8 isn't letting it worry him.
"It's going to be hard the second year. Even the coaches mentioned it at my one-on-one meeting.
"They said 'the pressure is going to be on you because they know how you play and how you work on the field as well.' So you've got to step up your game and work harder and work on the things you're good at and the stuff you're not good at."
The Samoan-born No 8 comes from a humble background - brought to New Zealand by his aunt and uncle. He is the second youngest in a family of five.
In 2007, while attending Tangaroa College in Otara, Lee's talent was spotted. He was invited to join the Counties Manukau Rugby Union Academy, working his way into the Steelers in the same year.
During those early days with the Steelers, Lee would go to work at 5am to a factory in Mt Wellington. He would drive back to Pukekohe for training, then back to work before returning to training again after work.
This was all done in a car with no windscreen wipers, but he did have some help. His Steelers and Chiefs teammate Tim Nanai-Williams made hand window wipers during the winter. Those days have past but the sense of doing the hard yards haven't.
Lee said he enjoys being a professional rugby player and in return shows that gratitude on the field.
"I've been training hard for the last six weeks and the outcome is coming through and I'm really looking forward to the start of the season."
As well as the on-field battles, Lee said he also has the challenge of securing a spot in the starting line-up with the wealth of talent the Chiefs have in the loose forward department.
"We've got experienced guys like Liam [Messam] and a few young boys like Alex [Bradley] and Sam Cane. So you've got to be on the top of your game and work even harder."
Although Lee has a New Zealand sevens jersey, he said he would be proud to follow in his co-captain's footsteps one day and gain higher honours in the 15-a-side game.
"He [Messam] is a class player. You've got to set the way you play, compared to those kind of players as well. He's been there and done that."
But right now, Lee's focus is firmly on what he can do for his Super Rugby side.
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 in Taupo on February 17.
Their season-opener is against the Highlanders at Waikato Stadium on February 25.
Season memberships for 2012 can be bought online at www.chiefs.co.nz or by calling 0800 466 665 option 1.