Tom Cusack will trade the bright lights of the Sydney Sevens for downtown Mudgee on Saturday as the Rio Olympian takes the next step towards his ACT Brumbies goal.
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But the Canberra junior admits the fear of the unknown in Super Rugby weighed on his mind after leaving the glamorous sevens circuit for a chance to play for the Brumbies.
Cusack will play his second game for the Brumbies in a trial match against the NSW Waratahs in front of a humble crowd in Mudgee.
It's a world away from his former life of playing in front of sellout crowds at the Sydney Sevens and at tournaments in Las Vegas, London, Edinburgh and Dubai.
But Cusack says the sliding doors moment of being in country NSW rather than in Sydney has reaffirmed his desire to earn his first Super Rugby cap.
The versatile flanker took a hefty paycut to end his sevens career after the Olympic Games last year to sign a development contract with the Brumbies.
It was a risk he was willing to take after growing up idolising the Brumbies and dreaming of playing for the Super Rugby franchise.
"To be honest, I was pretty nervous [before the first trial] because it was a complete unknown for me," Cusack said.
"I didn't really know what to expect about Super Rugby standard and playing against the Waratahs is going to be another step up.
"But I think I was happy ... I watched the Australian sevens boys in Wellington [last weekend] so that's new. But I'm enjoying the transition.
"The pre-season definitely helped, I don't think I was out of my depth in any way in terms of chasing the game.
"I was concerned about that initially. There are still learning points and positional things I have to work on, but that will come with working with the senior guys."
Cusack will come off the bench for the clash against a relatively unknown Waratahs side and the 23-year-old is trying to impress coach Stephen Larkham ahead of the start of Super Rugby.
He's been on the Brumbies' radar for the past four years and turned down previous offers to join the club to pursue an Olympic ambition.
He was hampered by injuries in the past 12 months, but managed to overcome a major wrist problem to play for Australia at the Olympics and be named in the sevens team of the tournament.
But he now faces a different challenge to transition back to the 15-a-side game, competing with Scott Fardy, Jarrad Butler, Ben Hyne, Lolo Fakaosilea, Jordan Smiler, Chris Alcock and Rob Valetini for game time.
Fardy is a guaranteed starter for the first game of the season against the Canterbury Crusaders on February 25, but the openside flanker and No. 8 spots are up for grabs.
The Brumbies have been testing Cusack as an openside flanker option, but he can play any position in the back row.
Jarrad Butler is considered the front-runner to replace David Pocock, but he is nursing a lower-leg problem and racing the clock to be fit for round one.
Smiler and Alcock have Super Rugby experience while Fakaosilea and Valetini add powerful punch as No. 8 hitmen.
"Tommy has been fantastic, he's obviously a very fit player coming in off the back his sevens stuff," Fardy said.
"He's another local guy which is really important for the area. That's why the Brumbies were set up and we're looking at guys who were born in 1995 or 1996 when the Brumbies started, and now they're here.
"That's a pretty special thing to have."
SUPER RUGBY PRE-SEASON
Saturday: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs at Mudgee, 6pm.
February 11-12: Brisbane Global 10s at Suncorp Stadium.
Brumbies team: 15. Aidan Toua, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Kyle Godwin, 11. James Dargaville, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 9. Tomas Cubelli, 8. Lolo Fakaosilea, 7. Chris Alcock, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Rory Arnold, 3. Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 1. Nic Mayhew. Reserves: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Faalelei Sione, 18. Ben Alexander, 19. Blake Enever, 20. Jordan Smiler, 21. Joe Powell, 22. Jordan Jackson-Hope, 23. Tom Banks, 2. Saia Faingaa, 4. Tom Staniforth, 7. Tom Cusack, 8. Ben Hyne, 10. Isaac Thompson, 11. Nigel Ah Wong, 13. Andrew Smith, 14. Andrew Muirhead, 6. Rob Valetini.
Waratahs team: 15. Bryce Hegarty, 14. Reece Robinson, 13. Irae Simone, 12. David Horwitz, 11. Harry Jones, 10. Mack Mason, 9. Jake Gordon, 8. Michael Wells, 7. Brad Wilkin, 6. Jack Dempsey, 5. Denio Toleafoa, 4. Ned Hanigan, 3. David Lolohea, 2. Hugh Roach, 1. Tom Robertson. Reserves: 16. Tolu Latu, 17. Damien Fitzpatrick. 18. Paddy Ryan, 19. Sam Needs, 20. David McDuling, 21. Matt Lucas, 22. Andrew Deegan, 23. Andrew Kellaway, 27. Ryan McCauley, 28. Jamason Schultz, 30. Con Foley, 31. Maclean Jones.
