Fetu'u Vainikolo left Auckland last year to get noticed and the blockbusting wing has been in the spotlight ever since.

He headed up the highway to join Northland and five tries in 10 games for the Taniwha was enough to convince the Highlanders he was worth drafting south for this year's Super 14.

It's fair to say that in a season light on rewards at the southern franchise, Vainikolo is a shining light.

He has added some much-needed razzle and dazzle to an often criticised backline scoring three tries in five appearances where his power and swerve have troubled every defence he has faced.

For a rookie he has looked more than comfortable. In fact, he's been a dominator.

The big question is where he will take his game next? This 23-year-old is suddenly very hot property and Otago and the Highlanders would surely be foolish not to try to twist his arm about a permanent move.

But Northland have promised to fight hard to retain him. Then again Auckland might take a second look at the talents of this Tongan-born youngster who wore the blue and white jersey at secondary schools, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.

But that is the future. Vainikolo has his mind full thinking about the present and how he can improve his already impressive effort to finally help the Highlanders to a win as they square off against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday evening.

"It's good down here, I'm just happy with getting more game time," Vainikolo tells RugbyHeaven from Dunedin.

"It's all new to me but I'm getting used to the game at this level," he adds modestly.

With fellow wing Lucky Mulipola injured early in the campaign, Vainikolo had the chance to stake his claim for a regular place in the side. His form has been irresistible to coach Glenn Moore.

Vainikolo is an interesting tale, a classic example of the surplus of talent in the big smoke.

He is no relation to England's latest star and former Kiwi league player Lesley Vainikolo but he is a cousin of Waratahs utility Daniel Halangahu.

Like a lot of island kids, his rapid physical development meant he started out as a prop. He played there for a year but his pace saw him shifted to the back row where he played flanker and No 8.

Vainikolo's shift to the backline came when he made the Marcellin College first XV in the fourth form. "I was the smallest fella in the team so they put me on the wing."

Seniority saw him played at centre and fullback over the next few years but it has been as a winger that he has made his name in the first class scene. "I will play anywhere just so long as I get a game."

Which was the main reason for his shift north from Auckland's Marist club last year to the Wellsford club in Northland. He was desperate for a crack at top footy.

"I just went up there to have a go. It was pretty good up there ... I enjoyed my time.

"It was a good opportunity, especially when you don't get looked at in Auckland. It was good to move somewhere else and have a crack."

And he cracked the big time with a professional contract dangled in front of him, much to his surprise. When the Highlanders called at the end of last year to say they would like him to come and join them in Dunedin, he was stunned. "I didn't know what to say when I got the phone call. I was over the moon."

He has been soaking up all the information he can get since heading south.

"I'm happy but I need to put more work into my game and get rid of some little mistakes," he says with a comment that sums up the entire Highlanders squad after their own errors have contributed heavily to their five narrow losses that sees them bottom of the table.

Vainikolo can't put one opponent ahead of the other in terms of difficulty so far but reckons he's in for a real test this weekend when the Chiefs line out against him. The Chiefs are overflowing with talent out wide and Vainikolo is relishing the challenge of taking on some internationals.

It's been a difficult learning exercise because the 2008 Highlanders lack much experience at all, particularly in their outside backs. They have an All Blacks halfback in Jimmy Cowan but only centre Niva Ta'auso, utilities Aaron Bancroft and James Wilson and wing/fullback Paul Williams boast previous Super 14 experience.

Pulling together an assortment of talent from other regions hasn't been easy but Vainikolo senses things are coming right.

Certainly in last week's loss to the Western Force in Queenstown there was a lot more imagination and effectiveness from the blue and gold backline that resulted in three tries, including another spectacular effort from Vainikolo.

"Yeah, we are moving forward," he assures the Highlanders' faithful. "Most of us are selected from different areas. We are getting there with knowing each other. We've been close ... it's just our little mistakes."

But make no mistake about Vainikolo - he has proven to be a real mover and shaker already