Without doubt tomorrow night is the Blues most important Super Rugby match so far this season. In fact it could well be their biggest match OF the season. No it's not a new beginning if they win, nor is it the beginning of the end if they lose.

But whatever the result it certainly has the feel of a seasonal if not seminal moment. Win and they'll deserve to be considered as serious contenders, that's how important this game is. And that's simply because playing a NZ team away from Eden Park is a game the Blues are expected to lose.

Everyone who follows the comp knows about the their annual struggle to beat fellow Kiwi sides. Is it psychological? Is it purely coincidental? Because it's definitely statistical. In  fact enough to be a gorilla sized monkey on the back that needs to be forcibly removed - and the ONLY way to do that is win.

The Blues record so far this campaign has been pretty damn good. They've lost to the two best NZ sides while winning three crucial games away from home, wins that every other team would be happy to claim. And that includes back to back wins in South Africa for the first time since Sir Graham Henry was coach.

Ok, slight exaggeration but you get the gist?

Make no mistake the Blues are not a bad side. No they aren't the best New Zealand side but they're now right there in the playoff hunt. Having done the bulk of their travelling,  if they manage to TCB & win even just their home games from here they'd be in the eight.

And if they can reproduce that first 30min effort away the Stormers then they're a genuine threat to everyone. But this is all "if". And the big IF is if they perform tomorrow night.

No it's not an ideal quick turnaround after the trip back across the Indian Ocean, but it's also a game where excuses won't wash. If you want to join the contenders then this is the exact game where you cease to be pretenders.