Fai Mika hopes a move to Tasman will catapult him into the Samoan reckoning for next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Mika who made 29 appearances for Southland since debuting in 2007 will head north tomorrow after transferring to Tasman on a one-year deal.
The versatile 29-year-old, who can play both sides of the scrum, has struggled for regular starting opportunities with the Stags behind Highlanders props Jamie Mackintosh and Chris King.
He was optimistic the shift to the Makos would see him gain more playing time as he looks to crack the Manu Samoa squad for the first time.
"It's a big move, but one I'm really excited about," Mika told The Southland Times yesterday.
"I've always wanted to try out for the Samoan boys. It's a matter of getting game time. I went to the (Samoan) trials a couple of months ago and they said they had heard of me, but never seen me play."
Tasman have been big improvers in the Air New Zealand Cup in recent seasons and Mika said he was excited about the chance to bolster their propping stocks.
Mika will play his club rugby for Waimea, in Nelson, and was looking to play his first match in the next few weeks.
He said it was extremely difficult to be leaving Southland at a time when the union was on a massive high after winning the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in 50 years late last year.
"It is sad, but it's also exciting ... It's hard to beat that Ranfurly Shield. It's unreal. I still get shivers up my spine just thinking about it."
Southland appear to be pretty well covered in the front row, with rising talents like Micheal Peterson and Nic Barrett expected to play more of a role in the Stags squad this season. Mika predicted that both players had big futures ahead of them.
Rugby Southland boss Roger Clark said Mika had been a fantastic servant for the province.
"He's done a really good job. There's a lot of history there, too, with his brother. We've got plenty of props. It's a win-win situation."
Clark felt the time was right for Peterson and Barrett to make the step up to Air New Zealand Cup level.
"We've got two local boys, who are raring to go. They're both very good players ... We're not in the business of hoarding people."
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