A Queensland opener was expected to stake a Test claim in the Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia at the Gabba.
But few would have predicted it would be England-born Matt Renshaw.
All eyes were on Queensland's Australia opener Joe Burns, with his job on the line before next week's third Test against South Africa in Adelaide.
However, it was 20-year-old Renshaw who stepped up on Thursday by striking a timely century along with Test No.3 Usman Khawaja.
At stumps on day one, Queensland were 5-338 after South Australia won the toss.
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Baggy green smokey Renshaw - in his first game back from a knee injury - hit 108 and Khawaja 106.
The left-handers shared a 184-run second wicket stand after coming together in the sixth over when Burns was caught behind for just four.
"I wasn't really thinking about it. I was just trying to score some runs for the team," Renshaw said of Test speculation ahead of the Shield round.
"Batting with Ussie today was one of the best experiences I have had, just the amount of knowledge he shares while out there.
"And Burnsy got a bit unlucky today - I am sure he will bounce back."
It marked Renshaw's third ton in just his second full-time Shield season with Queensland since relocating from England.
But it might be his most important.
National selector Mark Waugh said anyone who hit "150 or 100" in the Shield round this week would be considered for the day-night third Test.
And Middlesbrough-born Renshaw also showed the fight national skipper Steve Smith craves from his batsmen after their humiliating second Test loss in Hobart.
The childhood mate of England star Joe Root, Renshaw took 78 balls to reach double figures before winding up.
He struck six fours and four sixes in his 202-ball knock before chancing his arm too often, and was caught in the deep off legspinner Adam Zampa.
Renshaw - who emigrated to Australia via New Zealand in 2008 - was Queensland's top Shield scorer last season.
He also hit 94 for Australia A against a South Africa A attack led by Vernon Philander in July.
Khawaja struck nine fours and two sixes in his entertaining 137-ball knock to all but cement a third Test berth.
"That (Test speculation) has zero bearing on me when I play for Queensland," Khawaja said.
"I don't really worry about that stuff any more.
"I will do whatever I can to win games here - the rest takes care of itself."
