Former All Blacks wing Hosea Gear is primed to play probably his last Super Rugby game in New Zealand on his old home ground on Saturday night.
Gear will run out for the Highlanders against the Hurricanes in Wellington in the penultimate round of the competition.
“I guess it could be my last game in New Zealand so I really want to go out and enjoy it and put in a good performance,” he said.
“There’s probably no better place to do it than where I played so much of my rugby.”
The 29-year-old, who will head to Toulouse in France after the Super 15, played 69 games for Wellington and 70 for the Hurricanes before transferring to the Highlanders.
The southerners remain bottom of the table after their 40-12 loss to the Crusaders last weekend.
They also lost Ma’a Nonu and Jarrad Hoeata to suspension from that defeat.
Gear said discipline was an area the Highlanders had to improve against the 11th-placed Hurricanes.
“That definitely let us down, the cards and penalties,” he said.
“It’s something we’ve addressed this week so hopefully we can tidy that up.”
Gear has been one of the Highlanders’ best this season.
He is optimistic about their future despite a disappointing campaign and the other confirmed departures of Tamati Ellison, Kade Poki and Jamie Mackintosh.
He said there would remain a core group of players who had been with the franchise for the past two or three years, including outstanding outside back Ben Smith.
“Ben has come out of his shell this year and has added a lot to the team as his confidence has increased,” he said.
“The more he’s added to the side verbally, the more it’s come out on the field. You couldn’t get a better man.”
The Highlanders complete their season away to the Melbourne Rebels.
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