Sam Carter is like a kid on a ride at a show hoping to prolong it for just that bit longer.
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The Quirindi product is preparing for one final Super Rugby finals stampede with the Brumbies, with the Australian conference-topping ACT side to tackle the Durban-based Sharks in Canberra on Saturday night for a spot in the semi-finals.
After signing a two-year deal to join Irish powerhouse Ulster at the end of the season, every game from now on could potentially be the 29-year-old's last in Brumbies colours.
But that is the furthest thing from his, and his team-mates that are also bidding farewell to the club, minds.
"We feel like we're just getting rolling, we're just starting," the second rower said ahead of what will be his sixth finals campaign with the Brumbies since joining the club in 2011.
"We've been playing some good footy and just really enjoying coming in each day so we're definitely not thinking it's our last game."
"We're just focused on what we've got to do."
The Brumbies enter the finals having won their last six, and with the momentum they have built are, Carter believes, better-equipped for the finals than they were two years ago.
They missed out last year after leaving their run "a little bit late".
"Half-way through the season we kind of turned things around but it was too late and the Tahs (Waratahs) were on top," he said.
At the moment everyone in the squad over the last four or five weeks has just been enjoying coming in, doing the little things, working hard for each other and it's showing in our performances on the weekend so we haven't changed anything up."
- Sam Carter
"This year we've had a really good run home and we're just in a really comfortable position heading into what will be a home final tomorrow (Saturday) night."
He spoke about "doing the little things" and "working hard for each other".
That has been reflected in their defence. A key area in big games, Carter said they take in a lot of confidence from the way their defence has been performing.
"It's just been really good hassling from everyone on the field... getting up and making the tackle and everyone's working for each other on the inside and the outside and that's the sign of a strong team, when the defence is right, because it shows the attitude of the team and that they're ready to work for each other," he said.
Attempting to win their first final since 2015, Carter said they don't need to deviate from the script.
"Nothing really changes for us. We just need to do what we've been doing, what we train each day," he said.
"If we can do that consistently for 80 minutes the result will take care of itself."
Carter has enjoyed a typically consistent season.
He is the Brumbies' leading tackler this year and has taken 64 lineouts, just three behind competition leader, and Brumbies second row partner Rory Arnold.
"I'm never the one making the line breaks or scoring the tries but I'm in there in the thick of it doing what I have to do to make sure the team gets the result, and that's the most important thing for me," he said.
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Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has been impressed by what he has seen from Carter and believes he should be in the Wallabies discussions.
"He's defending as well as he's ever defended. He's just such a valuable player here, it's a bit like he's the forgotten man," McKellar told The Canberra Times.
"When I think of locks I value physicality, work-rate, repeat efforts, good set piece. And he brings all of those. His lineout, maul and scrum work is equal to any and he plays 80 minutes every week at tighthead lock."
"I hear all these conversations about other locks, but we've got a guy here, with his form, he needs to be acknowledged."
