Andrew Muirhead was supposed to be delivering kegs to pubs and clubs around Canberra this week, but looms as the spark the ACT Brumbies desperately need to save their Super Rugby season.
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Little-known Muirhead was the shock inclusion in the Brumbies squad for their two-game tour of South Africa and Argentina as they attempt to end a four-game losing streak.
It comes just days after Muirhead played in front of a few hundred club rugby diehards at Phillip Oval and six months after he moved from Brisbane to Canberra just for a chance to train with the Brumbies.
He's been juggling a job as a delivery man to earn a living while chasing his rugby goals it paid off when Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham tapped him on the shoulder on Sunday.
Larkham told Muirhead to pack his bag and offered him a temporary Super Rugby deal if he could convince his boss to give him two weeks away from lifting kegs and delivering tyres.
"This is the last thing I thought would happen this week. I had to give the boss a call and tell him I wouldn't be in for two weeks. But he's been great about it and they were stoked as well," Muirhead said.
"Larkham asked me what my work commitments were for this week ... then he said 'can you get two weeks off' so I called the boss and he's really good about it.
"I came to Canberra hoping to get a crack and this is the closest I've got to a Super Rugby debut. So it's paying off. "
Muirhead and uncapped prop Faalelei Sione were added to the Brumbies squad for games against the Southern Kings and the Argentina Jaguares.
The Canberra Royals teammates face a baptism of fire as the Brumbies battle to resurrect their season and cling to their fading finals hopes.
They still are still at the top of the Australian conference ladder but their lead has been cut to just three points and slipping up against the Kings or Jaguares could see them tumble down the rankings.
Winger James Dargaville was left out of the extended squad to rest his shoulder after off-season surgery, opening the door for Muirhead to step up.
"I was pretty excited when I first found out but the nerves hit me not long after," Muirhead said.
"Hopefully I get an opportunity to play and if I do get that, I'm keen to take it with both hands and really have a crack.
"If you had spoken to me on Sunday morning, I would have told you I didn't have a chance to go on the tour. I was looking more to next year I guess."
The Brumbies need an injection of confidence after failing to score a try in their past 210 minutes of Super Rugby action.
They have lost six games by seven points or less this season and are struggling to find a clinical edge to turn around their fortunes.
The Brumbies have won just three games this year but find themselves locked in a finals race after a disastrous Australian conference campaign.
"We need to capitalise on opportunities better, we've spoken about that," Larkham said.
"It's all starting to heat up now. We know the situation we're in and the fact there's not a lot between third, fourth or fifth. It really is going to depend on who performs in these last stages of the competition."
The Brumbies play games on the road against the Kings and Jaguares before returning to Canberra to play the Melbourne Rebels on June 3.
They will finish their season with games against the Queensland Reds and Waikato Chiefs after the month-long Super Rugby bye for the international window.
"There probably is a lot of pressure from outside, but we've come together and we know there's a job that needs to be done," Muirhead said.
"Even if you're not playing, everyone in the squad or at training feels a loss. Hopefully we can turn the corner."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 13
Sunday: Southern Kings v ACT Brumbies at Port Elizabeth, 3.30am (AEST). TV time: Live on Fox Sports 1.
