It may be a World Cup year but Wallabies coach Michael Cheika insists he won't be wrapping Michael Hooper in cotton wool as the NSW Waratahs face a ferocious breakdown battle with the Highlanders on Saturday.
Cheika, who guides both NSW and Australia, would be forgiven for shielding one of his prized possessions in Hooper from a gruelling Super Rugby season with one eye on the impending World Cup.
But while he admits the global showpiece is always at the back of his mind, he says he'll be doing no such thing with Hooper.
"If you close your eyes to what's going on after the Super Rugby season, you're being naive whether you're in my situation or anyone else's situation because it's in the player's mind regardless," Cheika said before the Waratahs flew out for Dunedin on Thursday.
"You've got to get a year-long plan for the guy (Hooper) and make sure you extract the best of him while he's at his Super Rugby team and he's still got plenty to give when he goes to the Australian team as well.
"You've got to take advantage of knowing exactly what's in front of you, prepare yourself accordingly and just go for it.
"Protecting is not a good thing. You've got to expose yourself to the work load and make sure you're ready."
NSW travel to Dunedin not looking as convincing as the side who gave the Highlanders a six-try masterclass in Sydney to secure the minor premiership last time the two teams met.
In the Highlanders, they face a side boasting the likes of Aaron Smith, the pacey All Blacks No.9 who was key in their 20-17 victory over competition favourites the Chiefs last week.
The Waratahs have won two of their three matches but it's the breakdown where the titleholders expected to be attacked.
Cheika says halfback Nick Phipps will be prepared.
"They love attacking the ball in the breakdown. Everyone's had a good crack at us this year in that area, so Nick Phipps will have his suit of armour on so hopefully he'll be able to survive the raids," he said.
"They've got a lot of X-factor and they're a very hard working outfit in the pack.
"So we've got to make sure our defence is not deceived by the illusion of width that they have, because they have players all over the park.
"But also be balanced so that if they do get the ball in the wide zones we're there to make the attack."
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