Dylan Napa is hopeful his NRL form has done enough talking to land him a State of Origin debut.
But the Sydney Roosters prop is speaking up anyway to assure Queensland coach Kevin Walters he's ready for his long-awaited first taste of representative football.
With Corey Parker retired and injured Matt Scott out for the season, Napa is widely considered a frontrunner to lead the Queensland pack this series.
That tip was given extra weight this week by Walters, who heavily hinted at a call-up, hoping "he can keep himself going the way he is and it will be this year".
The 24-year-old is no stranger to the Maroons set-up, having been included as 18th man for games one and three in 2015.
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Any hope of a run-on debut last year was curtailed by a 12-month Origin ban for breaking curfew in the emerging camp.
With that sanction served and his game packing renewed punch with the Roosters, the Brisbane-born hard-hitter hopes he's assigned the task of shutting down NSW's monster forwards.
"I feel like I've been knocking on the door for a couple of years now," Napa told AAP.
"People shy away from the fact they get talked about, but I don't shy away from the fact that I might be in selection.
"First and foremost my job is for the Roosters and at the start of the year when you set your goals, you set your personal goals and your team goals.
"Usually if your team goals work out it gives you every chance for your personal goals.
"This year we've only lost three games which has definitely boosted my chances to put myself in the selection category.
"One more game and see how we go."
With Walters' words in the back of his mind, Napa will aim for a big performance against Canterbury on Sunday, his last chance to impress before Monday's game one team announcement.
He himself is unsure how far his potential can take him, though at least is certain he's a more mature player than this time last year, when the Roosters had already laid the foundations for a second-last finish.
"Where we were as a team last year is all I can really think about," Napa said.
"We didn't have Jared and Boyd and Pearcey for the first two months of football so we were behind the eight ball to start off with.
"As a player it's hard to say. I only really judge myself from my team results and last year wasn't a good year, so I feel like I'm in a better position this year."
