Taking his previous standards into account the Whakatu Coldstores forklift driver has a mean and lean appearance this season weighing in at 135kgs.
"You remember when I was 145kgs?" Nu'u asked. "Those were the days when I was into KFC ... you know the favourite form of protein for us Samoans," he said with a laugh.
"Then I went to Australia for a bit and didn't play. My mates couldn't believe how big I was when I got back. Especially the likes of Jason [Long] and Ben [Hamelink] who remembered me as a lock well under the 100kg mark when we played in the 1st XV together at Hastings Boys' High School. I was so skinny.
"Some of the other props in the wider training group are around the 110kg mark. My goal is to get close to 120kg but if I got back to 105kg I would go back to being a No 8," Nu'u said.
A father of one, Nu'u has a couple of extra incentives to help Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports pip Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports in their eighth-round Tui Maddison Trophy encounter at Tamatea Park today. Hastings must win to keep their slim hopes of securing a semifinal berth alive and it is his 50th appearance for the visitors.
"We've got to win ... this game is a big one and a bonus point would help. We've beaten them before and we can do it again," Nu'u said referring to Hastings' 26-6 victory against Pirate during the Nash Cup round.
He agreed the clash of the front rows could decide the outcome, particularly if the forecast wet weather continues. In Sean Morrison, world champion Baby Black Pouri Rakete-Stones and Kelsey Miller the second-placed Pirate outfit boast one of the best front rows in the comp which is peaking at the right time.
"It's going to be good to scrummage against them," Nu'u said.
Should he miss out on the Magpies Nu'u knows he will have the opportunity to play for the Hawke's Bay Saracens and Hawke's Bay Samoans as he did last year.
"Playing for the Samoans was an awesome experience last year. There could also be another opportunity for me too," Nu'u said referring to a potential nine-month stint in Portugal.
"If going over to Portugal will increase my chances of making the Magpies I will do it. It could be a good opportunity for all the family," he added.
The other key top-five tussle will see K9 Petfoods Clive host unbeaten defending champions Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist Farndon Park. This has the potential to be the visitors' closest match of the season but they should still depart with a nine-point win.
At the bottom end of the points table winless Tamatea must beat MAC at Flaxmere Park to keep alive their faint hopes of avoiding the promotion-relegation game. A close encounter is expected, nothing more than a seven-point victory either way.
In other games, Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical should beat Northfuels Central by at least 10 in Waipukurau. The Texans know if they can tick this box they could leap ahead of Clive on the table and leave the riversiders in fourth place. Progressive Meats Havelock North should beat Carters Frame and Truss Taradale by seven at Anderson Park.
Utility back Adam Blake will play his 50th game for the villagers. A former Hawke's Bay Sevens, under-20 and under-18 rep, Blake first played for the team in 2012 and tasted Maddison Trophy glory that year and again in 2014.
Optimistic Villagers statistician Conrad Waitoa said his sixth-placed team still has hopes of securing a semifinal berth. "Two five-pointers and a couple of other results go away and we will be there."