Tane Tu'ipulotu might have been born in Tonga, got his start with Auckland and played for the Chiefs last year, but Wellington is home.
The 27-year-old midfield back smiles when it's suggested he's now a Wellingtonian, offering a "true that" as confirmation.
He has been in the capital since 2004 and despite spending last year with the Chiefs, is adamant his heart is with the Hurricanes.
There were the quiet offers that he shift to Hamilton while he was with the Chiefs, and he concedes that had they come a few years ago he might have moved north, but not now.
"It's awesome to be back in Wellington," Tu'ipulotu said after training yesterday in the XV that seems certain to be named today for Saturday's Super 14 match against the Sharks.
"It was quite nice in Hamilton, but I've always been tight with the Hurricanes and it's nice to be back."
But he's no permanent fixture as the Hurricanes juggle Tu'ipulotu's considerable talents with those of Lions skipper Tamati Ellison.
Add to the mix All Blacks Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu, and think back to the days when Tana Umaga was around, and it is surprising Tu'ipulotu hasn't cut and run.
"One of the main reasons is the players I've gotten to know here - the really good friends I've made. And Colin Cooper brought me into Super rugby, and I've always wanted to be under him as a coach.
"I wasn't really tempted to stay [in Hamilton]. They hinted to stay and I guess if it was after my first year things would have been different, but after three years with the Hurricanes I always wanted to come back."
His reward was to start against the Reds and Chiefs, and come off the bench for the other matches in his first true run of games since he started four on the trot in 2006.
Tu'ipulotu will play his 44th Super match on Saturday and is sure to join the 50 club before the season ends, either as a starter or off the bench. "It's good competition in this team and it makes us more competitive as players," Tu'ipulotu said of his tussle with Ellison.
There was an injury scare in the Hurricanes camp yesterday when flanker Jerry Collins left with a hamstring strain, but Cooper said he should be fine for Saturday.
The Sharks are also confident No8 Ryan Kankowski will be over his ankle sprain in time to play.
There will be changes elsewhere, though, with BJ Botha expected to replace Jannie du Plessis at prop and Steven Sykes coming in for AJ Venter at lock.
Francois Steyn is also expected to move to centre in place of Waylon Murray, making way for French pivot Frederic Michalak.
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