He may be in the running for an All Blacks assistant role, but Tana Umaga remains fiercely passionate about Moana Pasifika with the Test great claiming cross-town rivals, the Blues, "don't want us here".
The two Super Rugby Pacific franchises will face off on Sunday afternoon at Eden Park, with the Blues looking for back-to-back wins and Pasifika hoping to snap a three-game skid after they opened the season with an impressive victory in Fiji.
While Moana have made some strides on field, particularly last year when Ardie Savea helped drive them to the brink of a maiden finals appearance, they continue to battle off the field with questions about their longer-term Super Rugby future never too far away.
But Umaga is adamant the expansion franchise must survive and believes his former club - he coached the Blues between 2016 and 2018 - have made it clear they feel that Auckland should be one-team town.
"I don't know if they realise there's two professional rugby teams in this city, but we do know they don't want us here," Umaga said on Thursday.
"We've got nothing against the playing group, nothing against the staff, because I've worked in there, but the people that make decisions have made it very hard for us to survive over here.
"That's why they probably are our greatest rivals because they want to see us not do well, and not thrive. I struggle with that.
"When rugby is in a place where we're at, I struggle with the narrative that comes out of there last year that they believe they're representing the Pacific. Well, a Pacific team is here, but they're not willing to assist us or embrace us for the betterment of rugby. I do struggle with that.
"That's why this game does mean a lot to us."
Umaga alleged that the Blues earlier this year made no attempt to assist Moana when they were looking for a replacement venue after their plan to play a game in Tonga had to be scratched.
North Harbour approached the franchise about taking the game to Albany on Auckland's north shore, but that was allegedly blocked by the Blues because it was part of the 2024 champions' region.
"When our game against Tonga didn't go through, straight away we had the Northland [Rugby] Union come to us and say 'we'd love to have you', which they've done," Umaga added.
"The Blues said 'no, that's in our region. You can't go up there'. This year, because we play our other games at [Pukekohe], and that's in the Chiefs' region, the Blues tried to say to us that's actually in the super city.
"That's what we're up against, but that's fine. We just have to look back in our past as Pacific Islanders around how tough it is for us here, how tough for our families and our parents who have fought to provide for us to give us an opportunity in this great country.
"It's nothing new for us as a small entity, trying to build and grow for the benefit of our people."
Moana have been soundly beaten the past three weeks, suffering heavy defeats to the Hurricanes, Western Force and Chiefs, with expectations they could be on course for another hiding come Sunday.
Putting a bit of extra fizz into the contest might be a ploy Umaga is using to fire up his troops, though his comments did draw a retort from Blues chief executive Karl Budge.
"Tana was one of my idols growing up and I have a huge amount of respect for him as a player and a coach," Budge said.
"I think this is Tana trying to create a bit of extra spice against their cross-town rivals ahead of our game on Sunday. We have really enjoyed the rivalry we've created on the field and this weekend will be no different.
"It has been great to see our two proud clubs work closely together to promote the game and ensure rugby fans, be they in Blues or Moana Pasifika jerseys, get out and support their team."
While star recruit Savea, who is spending this season in Japan under incoming All Blacks coach Dave Rennie at Kobe, will return to Moana next season, the 2026 campaign may prove to be Umaga's last at the expansion franchise.
It is expected the former All Blacks captain will be among Rennie's lieutenants when he names his coaching team, potentially next week, with Umaga tipped to take on a defensive role.
"There was a bit of interest, in terms of having a chat with him with from my agent, just to see if anything comes up, would it come through," Umaga said when asked about the reports on Thursday.
"You wouldn't turn that down, would you? So we're just waiting for those things to happen and, you know, look, if it happens, it happens."