Canberra skipper Jarrod Croker is in no doubt Blake Austin and his shoulder can withstand an onslaught in the Raiders' NRL season-opener on Saturday against Penrith.
The real challenge will be keeping him off the field.
For the first time since July 2014, when he was on the outer at Wests Tigers, star playmaker Austin has been named to start on the bench.
The Dally M five-eighth of the year hasn't played since undergoing major shoulder surgery last September, having been rested for the Raiders' only trial against Newcastle in Orange.
Croker said Austin was itching to play after a long, lonely pre-season and rehabilitation and expected he would get plenty of minutes at GIO Stadium.
"He's raring to go, so someone's going to have to hold him back when we run out, I think, and let him know he has to wait," joked Croker.
"It'll be about keeping his nerves on the bench.
"He's had a long, tough pre-season and off-season with the shoulder.
"All I know, he's 100 per cent ready to go and, if him starting on the bench this weekend is the best thing for the team, then Blake will do that for us."
Sam Williams has been given the nod to start at No.6, alongside recruit Aidan Sezer at halfback.
Williams was paired with Austin in the halves from round five last year, playing all but three games together.
Croker expected the Panthers to send plenty of traffic Austin's way, like they would most playmakers, but was confident he was up to the task.
"He got it last year when he had a good shoulder, so I'm sure he'll be up for plenty of defence if he has to," he said.
"There's not many halves in the game that don't get targeted, so I'm sure everyone's up for that."
This season marks Croker's second as captain and head of a revamped Raiders leadership group known as 'Club 82'.
Australian and Queensland forward Josh Papalii joins Croker, Josh Hodgson, Shaun Fensom and Sia Soliola in the group.
Despite being only 23, Croker said Papalii was experienced enough to shoulder the extra responsibility.
"He's leading by example off the field, so it's a good time for him to step up as a leader on the field as well."
