Wallaroos coach Dwayne Nestor has paid debutant Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea the ultimate compliment, comparing her to outstanding Wallaby David Pocock before she even runs out for Australia.
Australia could field as many as nine debutants in tomorrow's season-opening Test against Japan in Newcastle but it's the appearance of the Queensland centre that has teammates and coaches salivating.
Lefau-Fakaosilea burst into prominence at the Brisbane Tens last year and may well have been in line for a Wallaroos debut the same year but the New Zealand-born teen was sidelined by eligibility issues and had to wait for her chance to represent her new country.
In linking her to Pocock though, Nestor has highlighted the extraordinary ability of Lefau-Fakaosilea - a centre who can tear opposition defences apart but is also so competitive and savvy she is a pilfering threat as great as the elite Wallabies flanker Pocock.
"For a girl who's 18 years old, her game sense and her knowledge around law and what she can and can't do, especially around the tackle zone with her ability to turn the ball over - it's like having a David Pocock in the midfield - she turns the ball over so effectively and is so strong," Nestor said.
"I enjoyed giving her the news that she'd been selected knowing that she'd waited and been very patient.
"I love those conversations when I can actually say to someone - you are going to be representing your country on the weekend because the reactions of the girls warms your heart."
Wallaroos captain Grace Hamilton is another who "can't wait" to see what Lefau-Fakaosilea can do.
"She's a special player and this is the first time I get to play with her so I'm so excited," said Hamilton, who as Waratahs no.8 was forced to attempt to shut down the teen's raids when NSW faced the Queensland Women's XV.
"She's a special player and I can't wait to see what she has in the years to bring.
"But tomorrow, she's going to being so much confidence and she's supported by girls who have played on the wing and outside backs that have played for sevens, so she's got all the support around her and I can't wait to see it."
Nestor was already well aware of Lefau-Fakaosilea's abilities but said she had continued to blossom in camp and knew he would face a battle over the "outstanding athlete", with the national sevens program also interested.
"She definitely could be a superstar in both games, so there might be a little bit of sharing going on," Nestor said.
"But the great thing is with (sevens coach) Johnny Manenti and (sevens pathways manager) Scotty Bowen, they're open to discussions we can have around players, which is fantastic for the players because they've got options.
"And we can build in a bit of variety to their programming so they're not going to get stale in one program, so it's quite exciting for them."
Hamilton said she'd seen promising signs all the debutants were ready to play.
"Something for me is that confidence and building that confidence here," she said.
"We haven't had a lot of time together but that confidence has been heightened in the last week.
"There is a lot of learning but in that, we're all around them and I can't wait to support them tomorrow."
Hamilton said many of the new faces would become Wallaroos fixtures ahead of the next World Cup in 2021.
"I think so. These' so many great girls here and there were lots of them last year," Hamilton said.
"We're building on that. But that's a credit to women's sport and women's rugby in Australia now - we're building and we're getting more competitive.
"Everyone's fighting for positions. I know girls that missed out this week are upset, so that depth now is so incredible to see."
Hamilton and Nestor said the Wallaroos had learnt plenty from their trial against the Japanese earlier this week.
While the Australians dominated the opposed session, Nestor said they would still have to work for their points.
"We're going to earn the right to go forward first, we're not just going to think that we're going to go from line to line," he said.
"We've got some fast feet on the edge and we'll use them where we can at stages but we've got to earn the right to go forward first.
"I think (Japan's) structures and their policies allow them to stay in games.
"They're very disciplined on their policies around support play and their defensive work as well.
"We've just got to be careful that we don't get loose and they take advantage of that because their systems will allow them to pick up a ball and go and score a try if we're not ready.
"We're going back a couple of years but in the World Cup they took opportunities and that put pressure on us, so the history is that you don't give them a sniff."
Australia's two Tests against Japan will give them a strong preparation for clashes against New Zealand next month but both Hamilton and Nestor said tomorrow's game was the immediate focus.
"We've got a little bit of an eye towards the other Test matches and then going on to 2020 and 2021 but you live in the moment and a Test match is a Test match," Nestor said.
"You don't want to give someone an opportunity to roll you because you're looking too far ahead.
"So it's all about tomorrow and the game tomorrow and we'll take what we can out of that for the other Test matches.
"A Test match is a Test match, we're playing for sheep stations."
The Wallaroos take on Japan at Newcastle’s No. 2 Sportsground on Saturday July 13, kicking off at 3pm AEST before a North Sydney Oval Test on Friday July 19 kicking off at 7pm AEST, both LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.
