Blues coach Pat Lam has played the legacy card with his side as it prepares to open the 2010 Super 14 season with its North Harbour Stadium match against the Hurricanes on Friday evening.
Individual players have been presented with numbered ties which honour their place among those who have played for the Blues since 1996 while those who have made 20 appearances for the side were presented with blazers by the No.1 Blue from the first game in 1996, loosehead prop Craig Dowd, at a special function at the team naming in Auckland on Wednesday night.
Dowd also unveiled an honours board which features all those who have played for the side, and the board will eventually hang at the remodelled Eden Park as a reminder of the developing legacy of the Blues.
Lam said many great players had appeared for the side over the years and one of the reasons for the evening was to make players appreciate the past.
"We need to step up to that standard and there is a responsibility that the Blues are looked at more seriously than they currently are so we know we've got to perform," he said.
The challenge had been to attend to the perceived weak areas of recent times, openside flanker, No.8, halfback and first five-eighths and Lam was pleased with the way those chosen had responded.
"We've got guys who are all trying to make a point, the key now is that we do it collectively to go out there and make the most of it as a team," Lam said.
The second-year coach said it had been more advantageous to have a good period of time to work with the side before the competition this year. There had been time to reflect after last season, pull the side's game apart, put it back together, look at the side's defence and improve that while also developing the culture of the side.
"I think we've got better understanding, better trust within the group, we're just miles ahead of where we were last year preparation wise. We've just got to make sure we transfer it at the weekend."
Lam was also confident that the changed emphasis at the tackle breakdown would create a better spectacle this year.
Lam said the side, without the injured lock Ali Williams, was the strongest that could be picked and given the competition for places in the side it was a hard team to pick, that was especially the case among the back four in the backs.
Rudi Wulf had been preferred at fullback after Paul Williams suffered a head knock last weekend causing him to miss some training during the week.
Having the Hurricanes with 11 All Blacks in their side would ensure a 'cracker' of a match to kick the season off, he said.
"You've got line-breaking team No.1 vs No.2, it's going to be entertaining but it's going to come down to some good defence and a lot of work," he said.
The Blues team to play the Hurricanes is: 1.Tony Woodcock, 2.Keven Mealamu (captain), 3.John Afoa, 4.Kurtis Haiu, 5.Anthony Boric, 6.Jerome Kaino, 7.Serge Lilo, 8. Viliami Ma'afu, 9.Alby Mathewson, 10.Stephen Brett, 11.Joe Rokocoko, 12.Benson Stanley, 13.Isaia Toeava, 14.Rene Ranger, 15.Rudi Wulf.
Reserves: 16.Tom McCartney, 17.Charlie Faumuina, 18.Filo Paulo, 19. Peter Saili, 20.Chris Smylie, 21.Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22.Paul Williams.
Not considered due to injury were: Luke McAlister, Paul Williams and George Pisi.