HER uncles are internationals Will Skelton and Mils Muliaina but Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea is making such an impact in the women's game she could end up being the most celebrated member of her rugby-mad family.
She may have grown up in Auckland playing netball and dreaming of becoming a Silver Fern but Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea has found her groove in rugby, where she is considered one of the most damaging midfield runners in the game.
And the world is now at the feet of the 18-year-old, whose only impediment to international stardom is waiting for her Australian residency requirements to tick over.
Lefau-Fakaosilea moved to Australia with her family in 2015 at the age of 15 and was soon playing rugby - a game she had only taken up in New Zealand about a year earlier after a representative netball career.
Footy wasn't available to young girls when Lefau-Fakaosilea was growing up, so she took up netball and was a handy midcourt player before playing her first rugby match at 14 in a senior women's competition.
"It was actually pretty scary," she said.
"I was pretty scared of the tackling and stuff but I've overcome that now.
"I knew a bit about rugby because my family is just a rugby family. But it wasn't really available for us as little girls, it was mostly boys teams.
"Netball was pretty much what I would be going for."
Lefau-Fakaosilea immediately loved her new sport and when her clan moved across the Tasman to settle in Brisbane she looked for opportunities to play.
She dabbled in rugby league at first before finding out about trials for a sevens competition, the game opening a new avenue to the teen.
"I actually didn't think I'd play rugby here," Lefau-Fakaosilea said.
"I started league and then one of the mums said there were trials for the Brisbane Sevens teams and then we did trials for Reds and then from then on I was just playing for Reds."
After a swift progression, Lefau-Fakaosilea trailed for the Commonwealth Games but was prevented from progressing to the final stages due to citizenship issues.
"But I continued to train with the women and I'm still waiting for my citizenship to come through," she said.
That could lead to a fulltime spot in the women's squad as Australia hones its side for the defence of its Olympic title in Tokyo next year.
"I started off (dreaming of the) Black Ferns but then to join the Aussies has always been a dream since I've been here and to make the team for the 2020 Olympics is still a goal for me and hopefully I'm there," she said.
Playing for Australia's development sides ahead of her residency requirements being met was initially a strange sensation for the Kiwi-born Lefau-Fakaosilea.
"It's been pretty weird but I'm used to it now and this is my home for my family now, Australia, and they've done a lot for me as well," she said.
"(My family are) fine. They still support the Black Ferns and All Blacks but when it comes to me, they're Aussies."
Talk of an Olympic debut is far from Lefau-Fakaosilea's mind this week though, with the centre determined to help Queensland to a maiden Super W title in XVs rugby with a win against NSW on Sunday.
The teen played in last year's heartbreaking overtime loss - something she said left her "gutted" - and will be one of Queensland's main weapons in a powerful midfield combination with Cecelia Smith.
"I've gelled well with her because he's extremely dominant running those holes and we really get each other on the field and we get along as well," Lefau-Fakaosilea said of her combination with Smith.
It's something Lefau-Fakaosilea has done as well, with Queensland coach Moana Virtue saying she's raised her game to a new level in 2019.
"Her attack has always been phenomenal - she just sees things that other people don't see and she can create things that other people can't - but defence is what I've seen her grow into," she said.
"Now she just smashes people and her timing is on point. She's going to be a big star."
And while sevens is an option, Lefau-Fakaosilea could find herself in a gold Test jersey later this year, with the Wallaroos likely to come knocking even if that means juggling commitments with the sevens program.
"She can switch between both," Virtue said.
"That's quite hard, they're both specialised sports but she just has the knack to switch.
"It doesn't matter where she plays, she's going to be outstanding."
One way or another, Lefau-Fakaosilea seems destined to be in a gold jersey sometime this year to make her senior Australian debut, something she will cherish.
"That'd probably make my life," she said of hearing the Australian anthem play before representing her adopted country.
"When I lived in New Zealand, if I played for Blacks, it would mean everything to me and my family and (it will be the same) if I represent the country I'm living in.
"Hopefully one day I get to wear that jersey and make my family proud."
