Aaron Cruden of the Chiefs. Photo / Getty Images
The serious business of transforming from contenders to potential champions begins today in Brisbane for the Chiefs, who face a brutal run to the tape that could destroy everything they have built.
It doesn't matter that they have won nine on the trot, it all changes now.
This is the point in the season that Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson famously calls 'squeaky bum time'.
It's one thing to look good from February to early May - but can the Chiefs continue to deliver results when the pressure cranks up?
A clash with the defending champions in Brisbane today is a demanding test.
There will be heat, humidity and an improving home side. After that, they face the rampant Bulls in Hamilton before a trip to Eden Park that might be decidedly harder than many expect. The Highlanders, Crusaders and Hurricanes wait after that, a line-up not so much a banana skin to slip on but a brick wall to smash into.
The history of the Chiefs is not one that fosters confidence. There is no established culture of success. Only twice before have they made the play-offs.
However, this looks a different Chiefs team. They appear better coached than ever. They have rugged players who are all in form. They have structure and simplicity to rely on and a defence that, before playing the Lions, was just about impenetrable.
Aaron Cruden is a name that could sit alongside other champion first fives Carlos Spencer, Stephen Larkham, Andrew Mehrtens, Daniel Carter, Morne Steyn and Quade Cooper.
The midfield is world class, the loose trio are playing out of their skin, the scrum is finally robust because they actually have a seriously good front five who are under-rated and they have confidence.
There are many reasons to believe in them but until they deliver down the home stretch, there has to be some caution about seeing them as potential champions. Do they have what it takes to be the best? What will it take for them to make that leap from good side to champion side?
"There are lots of things that will play a part," says head coach Dave Rennie. "We have to maintain our standards and work hard for each other.
"We have to keep on improving if we are going to go any further and I think we have a group of guys who are pretty determined so motivation is not going to be an issue.
"This is a bunch of guys with a strong culture. They enjoy coming to training and being with each other and I think we have an exceptional leadership team. The leaders have really set the standards and been strong.
"We also have a number of players who have been freshened up physically and then we have another break after the Reds, two more games and a break for the June tests and then another block of three games. So the draw has fallen quite nicely for us in that sense."
It's the break for the June test window that is causing a little concern. Initially the Chiefs had thought their contribution to the national cause would be as low as three.
Now they could lose as many as eight, with four - Cruden, Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui and Brodie Retallick - certainties and others such as Hika Elliot, Craig Clarke, Tanerau Latimer and Liam Messam hopeful.
The challenge for Rennie and his coaching team is keeping the players sharp, mentally enthused and ready to play again in late June.
The situation will be made tougher by the loss of those All Blacks - some of whom could have heavy workloads while on national duty.
"I guess at some stage in the process, [All Blacks] might need to be managed. We had hoped to give Aaron a bit of a break already but it hasn't been possible because we had some injuries at fullback which meant Andrew Horrell has had to cover there. We are mindful that we can't flog those players every week if we want to make the play-offs and do well.
"On the other side of the equation, though, those guys are all in good nick and we have been able to give them some rest from training during the week at times."
To some minds, the Chiefs remain a side waiting to implode. They were never fancied to make it as far as they have and reality will strike soon.
That's the perception at least - and the gamblers will fancy that as the Chiefs stall, the Crusaders, who have the pedigree, will motor past and secure top spot in the New Zealand Conference.
Maybe, maybe not. The Chiefs haven't been guilty of getting ahead of themselves yet. They build from scratch each week and it is increasingly hard to see where they are weak, if indeed they have a weakness.
The Reds will be a big test of how robust and ready the Chiefs are to break through, to be more than nearly men.