Playing at prop may be new to Jai Arrow but it has not stopped the Gold Coast lock from vowing to "stick it" to the NSW pack in his debut start for Queensland.
Arrow, 22, will cap a meteoric rise when he runs out in the Maroons No.8 jersey made famous by the likes of Queensland great Shane Webcke in Wednesday's State of Origin game three.
Ahead of just his third Origin, Arrow admitted he was pinching himself after graduating from interchange forward to a new-look Maroons starting front-row.
He will pack down with Canberra wrecking ball Josh Papalii, who has also received a promotion from the Maroons bench.
A regular lock in the NRL, Arrow conceded a Maroons prop nod was unexpected.
At 189cm and 101kg, Arrow at least looks like an Origin front-rower.
And he sounded like one too when asked what the NSW pack could expect.
"We definitely want to stick it to them and be physical with them," Arrow said.
"I love a challenge, especially starting. I can't wait.
"(Queensland coach Kevin Walters) Kevvie has shown me some faith and I want to back him and do a good job."
Arrow and Papalii slot into the front-row, replacing fiery Sydney Rooster Dylan Napa (knee) and Jarrod Wallace (bench).
Walters could not wait to unleash the new pairing as Queensland look to avoid NSW's first series whitewash in 18 years.
"I think they have both earned their right to start, they have earned their stripes," Walters said of his rookie front-row.
"Everyone has been watching him (Arrow) this year. He is a great young talent.
"Sometimes you have to reward that talent when they continually perform at such a high level."
Arrow's Gold Coast teammate Wallace was demoted to the bench for game three after copping criticism for failing to nudge 50m in either of the first two Origins.
"Wallace is someone who I feel has been unfairly criticised but we want to see some more from Jarrod," Walters warned.
"We saw again (last NRL round) how a good a player he can be for the Titans - he needs to lift for us."
Arrow believed no one in the Queensland team would be lacking motivation as they look to give stand-in skipper, veteran fullback Billy Slater, a fitting send-off in his 31st and final Origin.
Arrow is also desperate to experience something Queenslanders were almost sick of not so long ago - winning.
The Titans forward, hooker Andrew McCullough and back-rower Felise Kaufusi are the only Queensland team members who have not savoured an Origin triumph.
The trio began their Origin careers this year after the Maroons won 11 of the last 12 series.
