The NSW Waratahs are embracing the occasion of the British & Irish Lions tour, and few are embracing it more than Lachie McCaffrey.
The Waratahs assistant coach will get a second opportunity to meet the Lions - the first time being as a player, scoring a try off the bench for the Western Force in their 2013 clash.
Watch every game of the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
The Waratahs will be bolstered with the return of Taniela Tupou and the arrival of Matt Phillip to increase their competitiveness, with Rob Leota and Charlie Gamble also set to play in the First Nations Pasifika clash.
"It's exciting," McCaffrey told reporters earlier this week.
"I think the whole rugby world in general is excited. I definitely know the rugby community in Australia is excited.
"There's a real buzz around the place. I thought the Force started really strong - they went out, they had a crack, they played the game in the right spirit.
"I'm sure what the people at Optus Stadium were pretty excited and got a game they'll remember. Same thing at Suncorp. Hopefully, we make sure that all the loyal New South Wales fans that come out, we give them a night to remember."
The assistant coach revealed the side has been in training for an extended period, only taking a week off after their Round 16 exit from Super Rugby Pacific.
"We only had one week off after the Blues and then we were straight into it," explained McCaffrey.
"It's been an awesome last few weeks having time to focus on what we do well.
"Sometimes when you're playing each week, you've got to review, preview, and that takes a lot of time out of your week - where the blessing of the last three weeks without any matches on was we went back to what we do really well in attack and defence.
"As a result, the boys have been putting some really, really good sessions together on the grass. I think in terms of training, the last few weeks has been some of our best training weeks over the last nine months.
"Part of that was as coaches going back to the basics and our identity in attack and defence - and the boys have really enjoyed that and brought a lot of energy to it and bought into it. Hopefully that now translates to Saturday night."
As one of the two Australian sides that finished in the regular season, McCaffrey admitted that the New South Welshman will have plenty of challenges trying to contain the Lions' many weapons.
The match against the Force has given the side a clear indication, however, of where they can attack the visitors - and the return of someone like Tupou helps hugely in that regard.
"I think quality opposition, you can't spend a week previewing their threats because they have a lot of them," McCaffrey explained.
"So we'll focus on what we do really well. We want to put pressure on them. We want to force errors. We don't want to let them play on a platter. Otherwise, they've got too much skill and they'll hurt you.
"We want to pressure their attack, get in their face and be aggressive. That's something that we can control.
"Their skill off turnover attack was a standout. So making sure that our transition from attack to defence is on par to match their transition from defence to attack - that's where they really hurt the Force.
"Palms [Dan Palmer] always gets excited about big scrum weeks like this.
"Having 'Nella back, not just what he adds in the scrum, but just his energy and enthusiasm around the place. He adds a lot of positivity to the group. He loves playing rugby.
"He loves playing for the Waratahs. I know the boys love playing with him. And as coaches, we obviously enjoy coaching him.
"It's a real blessing to have someone of 'Nella's experience and skill level back. I'm sure he'll put a really good performance."
While the side will be leaning into the occasion, the match will have special significance for McCaffrey - entering into esteemed company of people to have both played against and coached against the Lions.
"I think it'd be dismissive and you'd regret it if you didn't lean into how big an occasion it is," McCaffrey admitted.
"Not many people get to even verse the Lions, let alone go out and play well and get a result.
"[I've been] Very lucky both to have been able to play the Lions, and now coach versus the Lions.
"The special thing about international rugby, like a game this Saturday, is it's Waratahs versus Lions, but you've got blokes that will end up travelling and playing and meeting each other, coaching together, coaching against each other.
"I think that's why, with all the crowds coming over from the Northern Hemisphere and the UK, it's a celebration.
"It's not just a game. It's a celebration of what rugby's about. It's almost like a six-week celebration of how good rugby is.
"That's the way I look at it, and we've just got a little part in that."
