Itoje-fest could be the best yet this year, as Maro returns to his parents' garden in Edgware for their souped-up family barbecue in September full of Lions stories.
'It started in 2018, so we're on to our third version having missed it last year; Ugo Monye keeps asking for an invite!' Itoje's brother Jeremy tells Sportsmail with a laugh.
'All of north-west London comes to our parents' garden in Edgware for Itoje-fest!
Maro Itoje is looking to write his name into the history books with the Lions in South Africa
Jeremy Itoje, Maro's older brother, gave Sportsmail a tour of the family home in Edgware
'On the patio we have a DJ — our mate DJ Salus — there's music, Nigerian food, as well as burgers and sausages. It's party theme!'
There will be plenty to celebrate if Maro and the Lions complete their series win over South Africa over the coming two weekends.
Jeremy — two days less than a year older than Maro, aged 27 — watched the first Test at their shared house south of Barnet.
'At the stadium I'm pretty low-key, but in my own space I go crazy!', he says sitting on the sofa of their five-bedroom home, having welcomed Sportsmail into the place they used to share with Saracens wing Rotimi Segun.
'I had a few friends over and we were going absolutely mental for it. Especially his performance — I was screaming at the TV.
'In terms of a defensive performance, it was one of the best I've seen from him. I think he still has a bit more to offer offensively but from a defensive side it was class.'
The Itojes, like all Lions families, have to watch from afar this time. They travelled to New Zealand four years ago, when Maro was the youngest tourist, and loved it.
Itoje won the Man of the Match award for his towering display in the first Test vs Springboks
'We were there for three weeks, so the Tests and the Hurricanes game,' adds Jeremy.
'It was awesome — especially with how cocky the Kiwis were, it's crazy! I remember I was in the lift with this retired 70-year-old All Black and he was like, "You guys are going to lose 3-0… no chance".
'He had no idea I was Maro's brother. The Wellington second Test was class — especially when they were singing, "Oh Maro Itoje" at the end. Even Alun Wyn Jones was singing it.'
There are few clues at chez Itoje that one occupant is a sporting great. Two pointers stand out. On a sofa in the living room sits the stuffed toy lion given to him as a 22-year-old in New Zealand.
Contrary to popular belief, the youngest player is allowed to keep the toy, so for these Tests it has pride of place at home.
The second hint is a framed photo of him with mother Florence, father Efe, sister Isabel and brother Jeremy after the 2017 second Lions Test in Wellington. The family are all wrapped up in scarves and hats, Maro, having completed his coming-of-age performance to beat the All Blacks, in full kit and beaming with them.
Otherwise, as you might expect, Itoje's sanctuary is hardly an homage to rugby.
Jeremy (second left) and the family celebrate with Maro after the second Test win in New Zealand in 2017
Two large prints of African art adorn the short hallway. In the main sitting room where Jeremy chats away, six more pieces depicting elegant ladies add vibrant splashes of colour to the walls.
Beside the fireplace sit two bejewelled female figures, a thin talking-drum over in the corner.
'Maro loves his African art,' Jeremy explains. 'Every time we go back to Nigeria, he goes to a market in Lagos where he picks it all up from. He curated an exhibition in Mayfair with a few African artists recently, which was really cool. I went down, and you see all these
