Queensland prop Alex Hodgman knows the challenge presented by a red-hot Blues side better than most.
A past life saw Hodgman accumulate more than caps for the Auckland franchise, including a Trans-Tasman title in 2021.
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But an off-season move to Ballymore has yielded fruit with the four-test All Black loosehead now in serious contention for a Wallabies call-up under Joe Schmidt following a breakout year in Brisbane.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's Reds-Blues clash, Hodgman tipped a "physical" battle but says he's "up for the challenge" of tackling his former team-mates during Super Rugby Pacific's Anzac Weekend Round.
"I'm just excited, you spend your whole year training with them and going through the grind with them and now you get to go up against them," Hodgman told media on Thursday.
"As you've seen in their previous games, (the Blues) are a physical force and for myself, it's exciting because that's the type of game I like to play and for me, its going to be a tough grind.
The prop battle alone will be worth the price of admission with Hodgman and Reds teammate Jeffery Toomaga-Allen taking on Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Angus Ta'avao while there'll be plenty of eyes on the #13 battle between All Blacks star Rieko Ioane and returning Queenslander Josh Flook.
Reds skipper Liam Wright paid tribute to the Blues' impressive start to 2024 but said his side won't shirk the challenge as they take to the field in a special Anzac commemorative jersey.
"The Blues are right up there are one of the top teams in the comp. We recognise the footy they're playing, they've been quite dominant so we've got a big challenge ahead of us," Wright told media.
"The boys are really proud to wear the jersey. We can't wait to run out in it."
