Canberra Raiders fan Usman Khawaja was fitted with a lime green jersey by the NRL club on Wednesday, and hopes to win back his Australian baggy green just 24 hours later.
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Khawaja is in Canberra to captain the Chairman's XI in the three-day tour match with Sri Lanka at Manuka Oval, starting on Thursday.
The stylish left-hander will play the first two days before leaving to join the Sydney Thunder in its opening game of the Big Bash League.
Half an hour after play gets under way, the Australian side for next week's first Test in Hobart will be announced at 11am.
The Queensland batsman is one of the leading contenders, along with Phillip Hughes and Rob Quiney, to replace retired great Ricky Ponting at the top of the order.
But before getting in the nets on Wednesday to fine-tune his game, his focus was squarely on living every fan's dream and catching up with the Raiders.
The 25-year-old was beaming when presented with a signed Raiders jersey on Wednesday, having adopted the NRL side since moving to Australia from Pakistan at the age of three.
''I've been quite excited for the last two days,'' Khawaja said.
''I've been talking to my friends and family, they're like, 'Don't get star-struck, try to act cool'.''
Sydney-raised Khawaja took up rugby league when he was seven before giving the game away three years later, joking he was afraid to tackle in his first game.
His love of the Raiders was on the back of the club's golden era where they won three premierships from 1989 to 1994.
''They were the strongest team when I came over, had all the greats - (Mal) Meninga, (Laurie) Daley, (Brad) Clyde, (Ricky) Stuart - so it was quite an easy decision at the time,'' he said.
''I love Daley, but I've always tried to act like Brett Mullins.
''Every time he got the ball or intercepted it I'd always yell out 'Mullins' and go for the try line.''
Winter commitments in English county cricket with Derbyshire meant Khawaja struggled to see the Raiders live, but he stayed up late to watch the semi-final with South Sydney on Sky Sports.
As for how the Raiders and returning captain Terry Campese will go next year, Khawaja has high hopes. ''They have a really talented squad and are always producing exciting young players,'' he said.
''Everyone writes the Raiders off early in the season and we always prove them wrong.''
