"It was a little bit of a rushed build-up, because I had surgery in December," he said. "I am looking at the colours of the medals but I don't know which one.
"I changed my mind a little bit on [my chances] and, after I came out of surgery, anything I lift more than I do in Delhi, I'll be very happy."
The 27-year-old has cracked that total of 334kg - 150kg in the snatch and 184kg in the clean and jerk - in training but, with limited time in competition, has yet to do it when it counts. But as coach Adam Storey explained, Chalaev's changed approach should steer him in the right direction when the competition commences.
"He's a very different lifter now," Storey said. "He's much more mature, more calm, more relaxed, but I guess he knows how to turn it on.
"In Delhi it was a very overwhelming experience for him but now he can relax between sessions. But when he's in the sessions, mate, he's on fire."
The shift in mindset is understandable considering the personal tragedy that struck the year before the last Games. Chalaev honoured his mother's memory by clutching her photo on the podium and, even with time passed, he's still tapping into that emotion.
"It's always there - you're always thinking about it and using it," he said. "I was just happy [in Delhi] to come away with something to show for my build-up and obviously pay tribute to my mum."
Whether he can add another medal to that tribute will be determined on the penultimate night of the Games, when Chalaev will be the last of New Zealand's 12-strong team to lift. The main competition will come in the form of Kiribati's David Katoatau - a regular rival in Oceania - but Chalaev hoped his inner calm would be shed at just the right time.
"I'm probably approaching it a bit calmer this time, because last time was very intense.
My mindset is a little bit calmer but, of course, on the day it will be time to unleash the beast."
