Phil Mooney and David Nucifora are yet to share a beer since the Auckland Blues arrived in town for tonight's Super 14 clash at Suncorp Stadium.
There will be plenty of time for that next season. And it's not like the old comrades haven't shot the breeze on all matters rugby over a frosty XXXX in the past.
Nucifora will be relocating to his hometown after the end of the Super 14 season, following yesterday's announcement that he will cut short his contract with the Auckland Blues.
He is likely to replace Pat Howard as the Australian Rugby Union's high performance director but his focus tonight will be to keep his spluttering Blues in the Super 14 finals race.
Mooney and Nucifora have a long history, with the pair both first grade coaches at Brisbane club side Wests in 2000 and 2001. John Roe, the former Reds captain who was replaced mid-season, led the club on the field in the second year of their tenure.
Nucifora's star rose earlier than his younger protege, with the Auckland mentor tasting Super 12 success with the Brumbies in 2004 before a player revolt saw him wheeled across the Tasman.
Mooney went on to win the World Cup with Australia's Under-19s before impressing all and sundry with his efforts at the Reds in 2008, tarting them up them from a wooden spoon rabble into something of a Super 14 wildcard.
Their shared memory pool will deepen tonight in what shapes as a rugged contest. For the Blues, it is a battle for finals survival after dropping five of their last eight games. For the Reds, it is about continuing to gather steam as a late-season form revival begins to rumble into life.
"We know that we're still a chance to make the finals. Our job is to win the next three games and maximise our points. It's not an easy task but it's achievable," Nucifora said.
"I always enjoy coming back to Brisbane and playing the Reds. I think in the past few weeks the Reds have opened their game up and are trying to play some attractive footy. That's what our team does as well so I'm hoping to get a good crowd there."
Nucifora was full of praise for Mooney, who has helped the Reds win back some healthy respect after the season from hell under Eddie Jones.
"Phil's a good friend of mine. We coached together. That's a good thing. It makes the challenge that bit more I suppose. I know what he does and he knows what I do - I'm looking forward to it," Nucifora said.
"(To turn around a side) is a very difficult task and, for a first-year coach, I think he's done a terrific job. This is the hardest provincial competition in world rugby to perform in. So for a first-year coach to make some of the changes he's done, I think he's done an outstanding job with them."
The Blues pipped the Reds in a pre-season trial game at Ballymore but Nucifora is hoping for a more substantial margin tonight.
"I've had enough close games this year. I'm looking for a very comfortable victory where I can relax."
Blues captain Troy Flavell said the announcement of Nucifora's departure hadn't taken his side's gaze off conquering the Reds, who are three from four at Suncorp this season.
"All the boys are quite focused," he said.
"We know the situation that we are in. Our backs are against the wall so hopefully that brings the best out of us."
