Lakai had welcome news soon after the Hurricanes started their pre-season at the end of November when he had the cast removed after he suffered a scaphoid injury.
That ended eight weeks of rehabbing, allowing him to set his sights on being back in full training by Christmas.
He said, "Everything's on track and feeling good."
Lakai came into the Hurricanes in 2023 after significantly contributing to Wellington's 2022 Bunnings NPC and Ranfurly Shield success.
"The first year was pretty surreal, not only winning the Shield but ending up winning the whole thing [the NPC] was a dream season. And this season, coming back in year two, I was a bit older and more mature.
"The first few games I played at the start of the year, I noticed the difference in the pace of the game; it was a lot faster than NPC. But after the first few games, I adjusted to it and look forward to making an impact in year two."
Understanding how to adapt to the faster speed was down to mindset and preparation and ensuring he wasn't behind when the gun fired.
Being introduced to higher levels of the game in the company of World Rugby's Player of the Year in 2023, Ardie Savea, was inspiring.
"He's been great. He's the best player in the world but he's a better man off it [the field] as well. He was real good with me, helping me off the field, not just for rugby, but asking me how I was off-field-wise. He's someone I look up to and I'm going to miss him this coming season."
Lakai said the pressure of lifting in Savea's absence would be a shared experience for the side because, with several long-time players having left, there was a need for everyone to accept the challenge.
"We're a lot younger as a team, but for me, it's just trying to implement my game. Not much changes; we've still got some good leaders in the team with Dupes [Du'Plessis Kirifi] and Jordie [Barrett], so we should be sweet."
Clark Laidlaw's introduction as coach was familiar to Lakai as he was involved in the New Zealand Under-20s earlier in the year.
"He brings a different style to our previous coach [Jason Holland]. Clarky is hands on and into his team connection stuff. He fits well into the team."
Lakai has also enjoyed the benefits of the Hurricanes' training facility in Trentham, which shares the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport premises.
"The boys are in there pretty much the whole day, even on weekends. There's saunas, pools, cold pools which is helpful, especially in pre-season when the running load is high and the boys are using the facilities to get things right. And it's very helpful with injury prevention."
It's a positive sports environment offering connections with the Phoenix men's and women's squads training there, and the Black Ferns are in and out while Sweden's team used it as a base during the FIFA Women's World Cup, and age-grade teams float in and out on occasions.
Lakai said living a life that appealed to him as a youth working through his teenage years was a dream come true.
To other young guys, I would say, keep working hard and take each opportunity with both hands. That's what I've tried to do. I'm here now but still have a long way to go.
During those early years, Lakai looked beyond rugby to compete in a summer sport, especially taking on athletics and putting the shot. He did well enough to win a North Island Under-14 shotput championship.
"I needed something to do in the summer and shotput was there and had a few cracks at it and was decent at it. It probably didn't directly impact my rugby but you need a bit of power to throw that thing weighing 5kgs or so 13-odd metres. A bit of explosiveness was needed."
And that explosiveness remains one of the qualities he brings to the game.
