Jarrah McLeod was in the middle of primary school when the British and Irish Lions last toured Australia.
On Tuesday night he's got the chance to run out against them with the First Nations & Pasifika XV in Naarm.
The 21-year-old is yet to make his first team debut with the Brumbies in Super Rugby, playing in the ACTRU Premier competition with Canberra Royals while in the system through 2025.
On Sunday, the Yuin centre was named in the reserves for the Lions' next tour match alongside fellow First Nations men Triston Reilly, Andy Muirhead, Harrison Goddard and skipper Kurtley Beale in the side.
"I'm sure when I get there tomorrow night there's going to be some nerves, probably some emotion, but I'm super excited about it," McLeod told National Indigenous Times on Monday.
Before then, he's "taking it day by day" with the squad as preparations continue.
It's the first time a First Nations and Pasifika representative side has been selected for a fixture in one of rugby's biggest stages.
McLeod said it's a "once in a lifetime opportunity" he's doing not just for himself, but for others to hopefully follow.
Growing up in Nowra on the New South Wales south coast, McLeod juggled between codes playing school rugby with Knox Grammar whilst also in NRL club Canterbury's under-age pathways system before heading down to the capital.
The self-described "big family man" is happily only a couple of hours drive from home in the ACT.
There were tears from McLeod's mum on the phone when he called to tell her he got the nod out of the 27-man squad, he told National Indigenous Times.
Ascension to the Wallabies is the goal. He's previously featured for the national under 20 side.
"I'm still young. I'll get that opportunity when it comes," McLeod said.
The opportunity there at present isn't beyond him, former Wallaby and First Nations & Pasifika XV assistant coach Glen Ella told National Indigenous Times.
"He's going really good, and he's fitted straight in here… he's not out of place," Ella said.
Ella remains hopeful of the match playing out in a way to allow McLeod a proper chance at showing his abilities of the bench.
The youngster has been named in the no. 23 jumper for the contest at Marvel Stadium.
"As I keep on saying to people who don't know much about the Lions…there's only one bigger event for rugby, and that's the Rugby World Cup. Then it's a Lions tour," he said.
The Lions select a side out of the four international rugby unions every four years for rotating tours of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
When they come to Australia again in 2037, Ella - who remains a cult figure in the game after representing the Wallabies alongside brothers Mark and Gary, is hopeful a First Nations and Pasifika side might remain a part of the calendar.
"It's up to us now to see if it's going to be here in 12 years. The Lions, they don't want to muck around. If we put in a really good fight, that'll be something for kids to aspire to in the 12 years," Ella said.
"So that's what we've really got to do…Win, lose or draw, as long as we play really well and show Aboriginal kids that there's another sport out there they can play."
Ella and his brothers, who played in 1980s, are three of the 15 Indigenous Australian men to have featured for the national side across its history.
Their sister Marcia was the first Indigenous woman to play netball for the Australian Diamonds.
The level of representation in rugby trails that seen across men's rugby league, the AFL and even the national sevens team - which share some of the names to have featured in the traditional format.
There's work to be done in the pathways, Ella said, "and that comes with funding".
With the current Lions tour and men's 2027 World Cup in Australia coming, he hopes Rugby Australia can "put some structures in place so we can (see) more Aboriginal kids play our code".
Ella hopes a creative flair in attack can prove a weapon against the Lions on Tuesday night.
McLeod, Reilly, Muirhead, Goddard and Beale are all set to feature in the backline.
The five of them, with their Pasifika teammates, could be the inspiration for the next generation in the sport, Ella told National Indigenous Times.
McLeod hopes so.
"To be able to run out there for my people, my family, in front of the whole world, it's crazy," he said, with ambition to play well, but also to be part of a group younger Indigenous kids can look up to and hopefully follow in their footsteps.
His mum, younger siblings and other family members will be there in the stands on Tuesday night.
