KEY POINTS:
It's a closely guarded secret within the walls of Fortress Chiefs.
But you can be sure there's not much in it.
Question: Which of the Chiefs' two speedsters, Sosene Anesi and Lelia Masaga, would get to the finish line quicker in a 50m sprint?
If Chiefs coach Ian
Foster knows the answer, he's not telling.
"That's very confidential information," he quipped.
"Neither will tell you who the faster is.
"They're both pretty quick."
That much is already known, Anesi for his feats with the Chiefs and Waikato over the past few seasons, Masaga for his efforts with Counties Manukau, the New Zealand Colts last year and, most graphically, in his first try for the Chiefs against the Brumbies last Saturday.
Masaga came on as a late replacement on the left wing and can't be accused of not grabbing his chance. With his second touch, from an almost stationary start, he sped past the flailing arms of Julian Huxley and across from 15m out to give the Chiefs a chance of victory.
That was enough to convince Foster to give Masaga his chance in the starting XV for tonight's clash in Hamilton against the Hurricanes, who field the lively Hosea Gear and bullocking Ma'a Nonu on their flanks.
"I was pretty stoked," said Masaga, at 20 the youngest Chief.
"I was really excited and wanted to put something back in for the team. Just being on the bench made me desperate to get out and play."
Speed runs in the Masaga family, he reckons. The third of five boys (he also has a sister), Masaga earned his nickname, Flash, from a friend when he was about 12.
It suits the flying flankman, who grabbed seven tries during the Colts world championship campaign in France last year.
He picked up five more for Counties Manukau in the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup, including a couple of belters against Hawkes Bay.
But being quick is one thing; Masaga is learning to be part of a team unit at the Chiefs.
"Ian Foster said I need to be more vocal this year.
"He talked to me about needing to contribute, and it's been pretty good this year."
When All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu returns in week eight, the prospect of Anesi at the back and Sivivatu and Masaga on the wings is mouthwatering.
But there's plenty of rugby to play, and statements to make, before then. Foster likes the progress he has made since last year, when he got three appearances off the bench.
"He's certainly made strides physically," Foster said of the 1.82m, 92kg Masaga.
"When guys come in for the first time, when they're young, often they have a reasonably young training age too, and it takes a while to get used to how things are going to work. But he handles the load and managed to really learn a lot from the guys last year."
Masaga grew up fast. His father, Fipoi, died when the boy was 12. His mother, Iliui, Masaga and his younger siblings moved to Manurewa.
His thinks of his father when he talks of his goal to one day make the All Blacks - "my father wanted me to be a really good rugby player" - but there's plenty of lessons to absorb before that.
However, he looks to have the tryscoring knack.
In 20 provincial games, he's scored 20 tries.
So there's pace to burn in the Chiefs back three, and you wouldn't mind a sneak peak at one of those training sprints.
