KEY POINTS:
Strikeforce Joe Rokocoko scored with his first touch for the Blues. It was a glorious start for the teenager five years ago and a delightful reminder of the way his cousin Joeli Vidiri used to light up the rugby scene before illness cut him down.
Rokocoko soon joined the rare list of those to play for the All Blacks before their province. The tries kept coming in the black jersey, but there have since been relatively slim pickings for the wing in the Super 14.
In almost comparable appearances at the end of last season, he had claimed 43 test tries and just 16 touchdowns in Super Rugby.
The speedster got little chance to rectify that imbalance in the last Super 14 when he was called up to the intrusive All Black reconditioning programme, then injured and off the pace when he returned to the Blues.
His touchdown tally was a big fat zero while fellow wings Doug Howlett and Rudi Wulf made the most of their chances.
But the beam is back this year as Rokocoko has powered across for four tries in three matches. The wing's gleaming smile tells everything about his emotions while coach David Nucifora offers a couple of other pointed comments.
"He is playing well. He's had a good preparation this season and it has been good to have him with us for the whole of the off-season. He is playing with a lot of confidence, which is great to see."
The makeover is comforting for the wing and the Blues. Often Rokocoko is a slow starter and he has been siphoned off to sevens duty in the past in a bid to find some international form.
But he and the Blues have made a fast start this year, an 18-try attacking blitz from the squad as they contemplate tomorrow's meeting with the unbeaten Sharks.
The match also doubles as Rokocoko's 50th match for the Blues. "It is a huge milestone for me," Rokocoko said, "the first 50 games I have played for any team."
Victory tomorrow would also be an important signpost for the Blues if they are to continue their progress and avenge the twin defeats they suffered last season against the Sharks.
The Blues are not expecting much deviation from the locals' regular formula of forward intimidation backed by strong defence and tactical kicking.
The visitors have been buoyed by their ability to counter the aggressive forwards of the Lions and Cheetahs, results which encouraged Troy Flavell to suggest his side could leave South Africa with maximum points.
The firepower throughout the Blues backline and successive 50-point tallies against the Lions and Cheetahs have increased the pressure on the Sharks to show some rugby steel in the Republic.
The Sharks have won their three games without being convincing - as they deal with the defections of senior players like John Smit and Percy Montgomery, and the introduction of the new law variations.
But Sharks mentor Dick Muir is a canny operator and someone used to the psychological warfare of these matches. He quickly installed his side as underdogs and then challenged his forwards to deal with Flavell's optimism. New series, old tricks. But Muir was on the money when he warned of the danger from the visitors.
"It's important our tactical kicking is accurate because the Blues have a back three who can counter from anywhere. You can't gift the Blues possession because they will punish you."
Enter Rokocoko, who has lifted his workrate and shown the threat he poses as a pure finisher, or - as against the Chiefs and Cheetahs - as someone who can come off his wing on set-plays to slice open the midfield.
