He's the good news story of the 2017 NRL season and now Cameron King is refusing to shy away from a finals showdown with Cameron Smith.
In what shapes as a prince and pauper match up, the Parramatta dummy-half will come up against the game's greatest player and raging-hot Dally M favourite Smith next week.
The match will be King's first finals appearance and it will also be a momentous occasion for Smith - who'll run out for his 366th first-grade match, surpassing Darren Lockyer's all-time appearance record.
On the flip side, King will be making just his 31st NRL appearance despite making his debut back in 2010.
"It's exciting, he's someone who I've watched and looked up to coming through the grade," King said.
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"He's the best player in the game in my opinion.
"I've played him once or twice when I was at the Dragons. To learn off him ... is pretty special.
"I suppose it is easy to get overawed but it's not something that bothers me. I'm a pretty laid back sort of guy."
Seven years ago King was earmarked as the next big thing and seen as a future NSW No.9.
However, a cruel series of injuries during his stints at St George Illawarra and North Queensland hindered his progress.
He has found a home at the Eels under Brad Arthur, who has entrusted him with starting hooker duties and turned himself into an 80-minute player.
Kaysa Pritchard, who started the year as the Eels' first-choice rake was available for the side's win over South Sydney on Friday night but Arthur elected to run King as his sole dummy-half.
"There were three or four games when I played 50-60 minutes and then BA wanted me to play 80 so I've got more confidence each week," he said.
"I just want to do my job to the best of my ability."
