There may be those who doubt Reece Walsh is ready for State of Origin, but there's no such concern from the 18-year-old.
Walsh will cap a stellar rise from unknown Brisbane prospect to Maroons fullback on Sunday when he make his Origin debut in a must-win match at Suncorp Stadium.
When he takes the field he'll become the least-experienced Queensland player since Ben Ikin debuted in the middle of the Super League war after just four first-grade appearances.
The selection of the Warriors phenom has drawn criticism from legendary NSW coach Phil Gould, who is also a consultant at Walsh's NRL club, labelling the call-up "disgraceful" and saying the teenager is being "thrown to the wolves".
Walsh himself however is just riding a wave which started with a move to the Warriors in April and then an immediate NRL debut.
A natural confidence in his own ability has been behind his meteoric rise and Walsh says he won't be changing instinct to back himself on the field in Origin.
"That's what you have to do as a footballer and you can't go out there thinking you're not ready or hold back because you're playing for your mates and your state and your family," Walsh said.
"You don't want to go out there half-hearted."
Walsh is also ready for a physical and aerial barrage from the Blues as the Maroons aim to level the series after a 50-6 humiliation in Townsville.
"I feel like the boys will really look after me out there and make the the job for me as easy as possible," he said.
Despite his confident talk, there's still plenty of wide-eyed youngster as Walsh settles into his first Maroons camp.
From a Sunday afternoon trip to the movies was disturbed by the phone call telling him he was in the team from coach Paul Green to meeting boyhood idol Billy Slater upon his arrival at the team hotel on the Gold Coast, Walsh is still pinching himself.
"It's pretty crazy mate. Seeing that sort of person play for Queensland when you're a little kid and myself looked up to him, got to sit there and have a little chat with him is pretty special," Walsh said.
"To be able to do that (run out as a Queensland player) on Sunday.
"I'm really looking forward to it."
Australian Associated Press
