David Hill could be forgiven for thinking he was hearing things when his name cropped up in the All Black test squad to face Ireland next month.
After all, it was 2001 when he played his two matches in black, against Ireland A and Scotland A, his teammates including the
likes of Dion Waller, Nathan Mauger, Roger Randle and Paul Miller.
But the Chiefs back has learned not to get too emotional either way and an extra few years on the clock have helped him handle the peaks and troughs which come with the game.
Hill was sidelined by a viral condition for a substantial part of this year's Super 14. When he returned, he played crucial roles in the final two wins over the Waratahs and Blues. And now this.
"At the end of the day, if something is going to happen, it'll happen and I try not to stress about it too much," he said yesterday.
"I'm just happy to be involved and playing footy again. It was a bit of a surprise but I've taken it in my stride. I wasn't going to be disappointed, and now they've named [me] I'm trying not to get too over-excited about it as well."
Hill's name was linked with a move to a British club after the Super 14. The World Cup is 17 months away but Hill now appreciates he is still in the selectors' thinking.
He has stiff competition. Daniel Carter, Luke McAlister, perhaps the versatile Aaron Mauger and, when he returns from injury, maybe Nick Evans are ahead of Hill in the No 10 pecking order. His contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union is up at the end of this year. The next few weeks are crucial.
"None of the plans I'd made were ever set in concrete," he said. "This is a massive opportunity.
"It's nice to know you're in the selectors' minds."
There is a recall for Hill's Chiefs teammate Sam Tuitupou after a storming Super 14. Hill described Tuitupou's form as "outstanding". Mils Muliaina, Byron Kelleher and Marty Holah are the Chiefs' other representatives in the Irish series squad.
