He might only be trotting out for just his second match in his hometown of Newcastle, but Wallaby veteran Nic White has admitted the hunger to win is still driving him to be a regular member of the Wallabies as they prepare for their opening match of the year against Fiji.
Just missing out on the first fixture played in the Steel City in 2012, White did feature eight years later when the Wallabies earned a 15-all draw against Los Pumas in 2020.
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Less than a week after finally getting the monkey of his back and playing the Lions, White will now get the chance to try and deliver a maiden Wallaby win in his home town.
"Man, it's unreal," White told reporters on Friday following the squad announcement.
"Almost was part of that 2012 test, [was] long wait until 2020 to have another crack here and it's just such a proud area.
"Rugby is bigger than people expect in the Hunter and in the Newcastle area, so to be able to come up here for a bit over a week, the boys were all out at the Wildfires game. It's just a buzz about town, the number of people that have just stopped us and wished us luck.
"There's obviously a huge appetite for rugby up here, so to be able to bring a test match up here, not just flying for a test but over a week here and be able to mix and mingle. Got up there to the Maitland Juniors during the week and they love that. If it keeps a few kids in rugby, that'd be unreal.
"I'm pumped, I can't wait for Sunday. I've been chomping at the bit, it's been an enjoyable week."
As one of the first Wallabies to take on the Lions, White admitted to enjoy getting caught up in the buzz, but the shift back to the national camp in the Hunter has brought things into focus for the scrumhalf.
"I think our training week was probably a little bit different to how a test may feel in terms of pressures. As a club side, it's you're not really expected to knock them off," the Force scrum-half admitted.
"We just enjoyed that week. We had guys like Sam Carter playing their last game. Ollie Hoskins come back and do the full circle, there's a lot to feel good about.
"For me, personally, to finally play them was unreal. The Brits all week were very nice, but I imagine in a few weeks' time things might change a little bit. As a player, you absolutely live for these weeks.
"I think back to a kid running around the backyard just hoping, dreaming and like, oh yeah, running out, playing the Lions, and then you do it. You kind of pinch yourself, right?"
It has felt like a full circle moment for White over the last few weeks, with the Wallabies receiving a warm reception from the wider Hunter community.
White himself is only one of two Maitland Blacks who have gone on to play for the Wallabies, and he admits he hopes a good result this weekend will encourage more kids to give rugby a go.
"It's really important to have these tests up here. There's a real appetite for rugby," explained White.
"There's a lot of rugby in the Hunter and Newcastle and a large number of people.
"If we can have a test up here and spend the week or so up here it's just those few little moments that can maybe keep a kid in the game. I can remember the moment, Phil Waugh and Nathan Gray came up... I was about 12 years old. It was just a couple of words from Nathan Gray and I just was absolutely in love with rugby.
"If we can have a few moments like that and keep a few kids in, maybe a few Wallabies down the road come from the Hunter as well."
While the match serves as a valuable 'warm up' for the Wallabies ahead of the Lions, both White and Dave Porecki made it clear it was anything but a warm up, with White fully aware of how much the Fijian side has improved since 2023, and the wins they have achieved.
However, the competition for positions that has emerged under Joe Schmidt has made White even hungrier to try and get a start, even though he himself admits he knows he is getting on in age.
Should it be another five years between Tests in Newcastle, White also admitted it might be the last chance for fans to see him play in gold in his hometown - but he won't be really dwelling on it until after fulltime.
"Fiji, great side, beat us last time we played them," the veteran admitted candidly.
"[I'm] kind of obsessed about getting that role right.
"There's something in me that's just competitive. I think most guys you talk to may think I'm a bit over-competitive.
"I still feel good. I want to compete, in anything. I want to be a part of this team, this group, whatever role that is. I feel like I've still got a lot to offer.
"Maybe that competitiveness may never die and my body might be what gives up first. But until that happens, there's something in me that just wants to keep going.
"I've been treating any Test I've been a part of for the last 12 months as potentially my last. That's just the reality of how strong the competition is around my position.
"I've got to play well, I've got to perform well, I've got to train well.
"I won't be playing in five years. I don't want to sound like a bit of a grump, but probably not [getting emotional].
"I'm just super focused on my role and just performing well for the team. I'll certainly soak it up post-game."
With Fiji also confirmed a stacked side, the Wallabies will have plenty of headaches to deal with - and all with the backdrop of a rampaging Lions side in the background, fresh off two big wins over the Western Force and the Queensland Reds.
Despite that, White is still confident the Wallabies can continue to grow following a promising season last year - and backs the side to show that, starting Sunday.
"We've prepared really well," White said.
"A lot of the focus is on us, just because of the short runway we have into this first test. We've studied their players, and we play against the Drua, which a large part of their team will be a part of.
"A lot of it's been around how we want to play, a lot of continuation from how we were playing last year, and just really focused on the fundamentals around that game.
"If we get that right, we make the game easier for ourselves and give ourselves the best shot of getting a result.
"They're looking to win. We're looking to win. Stakes are high. Tensions will be high.
"There'll be a lot of pressure."
