Xavier Savage will make history on Thursday when he runs out at fullback for the Canberra Raiders against Manly making an unprecedented second NRL debut.
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Coach Ricky Stuart has turned to his 19-year-old young gun to cover the injured Bailey Simonsson at fullback, and this time it's going to count at an empty Brookvale Oval.
Savage took the field for 12 minutes against the Dragons last month when he was injected after halftime as 18th man, before an NRL match official realised the Raiders' error and he was forced to return to the bench.
Despite taking the field, the NRL did not count Savage's erroneous stint at Win Stadium as an official appearance.
There will be no such drama on Thursday with Savage in the starting side, after Simonsson picked up a toe injury in Saturday's horror loss to the Gold Coast Titans.
He's one of four changes Stuart has made ahead of his side's clash with the red-hot Sea Eagles.
Ironman Elliott Whitehead will miss his first game for the year after picking up a shoulder injury in the Titans loss, while Jack Wighton and Josh Papalii are away on State of Origin duty.
Hudson Young comes in to cover Whitehead, while Dunamis Lui starts at prop for Papalii.
Local junior Matt Frawley will play just his second NRL match for the Raiders, linking up with Sam Williams in the halves after the pair helped steer a young Canberra side to victory in last year's final-round clash with Cronulla.
English international Josh Hodgson retains his place at starting hooker while Tom Starling will come from the bench.
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"All the boys are buzzing, especially all the younger boys, it's pretty special to be able to start your NRL career," Starling said.
"They've been working hard behind the scenes here and they'll be ready to go.
"We've got the experience there in the team to guide these younger fellas through their first few games, whoever that is. People have to pick up the weight and everyone needs to perform.
"It's the man up mentality. Ricky's not going to put someone in that's not ready for first grade.
"It's a short turnaround which will help just trying to move forward. We've got a big job ahead at Brookvale. Manly have been on form. It'll be good the quick turnaround to get straight back into it."
Starling said losing Whitehead was a massive blow.
"He's a tough cookie Smell [Whitehead], you can all see how he plays, he plays with his heart on his sleeve, he's our leader and he leads by his actions out on the field," Starling said.
"He battles through a lot of injuries that people don't really hear about week in week out, he's putting his body on the line."
Canberra Raiders v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Thursday July 8, 7.50pm, 4 Pines Park
1. Xavier Savage 2. Semi Valemei 3. Jarrod Croker (C) 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Matt Frawley 7. Sam Williams 8. Emre Guler 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Dunamis Lui 11. Corey Harawira-Naera 12. Hudson Young 13. Ryan Sutton 14. Tom Starling 15. Ryan James 16. Sia Soliola 17. Joe Tapine 18. Matt Timoko 19. Trey Mooney 20. Brad Schneider 21. Harry Rushton
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
