Reds flyer Tim Ryan has laid Queensland's Super Rugby AUS title hopes bare ahead of a crucial Round 2 clash with New South Wales in Narrabri.
Ryan, 21, scored a hat-trick in last week's 36-26 win over ACT Brumbies and is relishing the chance to tackle Australia's best in the inaugural four-week tournament - and come out on top.
Watch Super Rugby AUS 2025 live and free via rugby.com.au's YouTube channel.
"[Super Rugby AUS] is a cool format but we're taking it really seriously," Ryan told rugby.com.au on Thursday.
"We've been training really hard as a group and it's just like any other competition, right? We're playing to win.
"It was great to have an arvo game with the fans coming out at Ballymore, kids on the field, and it's good to see a few club boys run out with the old boys.
"But like I said, we're taking it seriously and we're here to win."
Queensland enter this weekend's grudge match as heavy favourites over the Waratahs with the likes of Joe Brial, Lachie Anderson and Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen set to return.
Boom debutant Vaiuta Latu has been retained by Les Kiss after excelling at number eight against the Brumbies with Jock Campbell moving to flyhalf in place of Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (HIA).
Meanwhile, New South Wales head into Saturday's Santos Festival of Rugby needing a win to keep their final hopes alive after dropping their Super Rugby AUS opener 24-3 to the Western Force in Sydney.
"I'm bloody keen as," Ryan said of taking on the Waratahs.
"Young kids like Vice (Vaiuta Latu) were really damaging against the Brumbies, I was really impressed with him and excited to see how he goes.
"Sometimes you expect nerves but he had an instant impact and it was pretty cool being outside him there early for a try.
"It's always a great game and especially with the [Santos] Festival of Rugby on, we had it out in Roma a few years back and it's a great atmosphere so keen for a new spot this year.
"I'm just excited to play some good footy, put my best foot forward and enjoy being back around the boys."
The Reds vs Waratahs Round 2 Super Rugby AUS fixture kicks off 5:45PM AEST on Saturday 20 September and will be streamed live and free via rugby.com.au and YouTube.
WARATAHS (1-15): Isaac Kailea, Ethan Dobbins, Daniel Botha, Ben Grant, Miles Amatosero, Leafi Talataina, Jamie Adamson, Chlayton Frans, Michael McDonald, Joey Fowler, Sid Harvey, Lawson Creighton (c), Jackson Ropata, Leo Jacques, James Hendren
Replacements: Bruce Kauika-Petersen, Tom Lambert, Apolosi Ranawai, Clem Halaholo, Austin Durbidge, Teddy Wilson, Otto Serfontein, James McGregor
REDS (1-15): Aidan Ross (vc), George Blake, Massimo De Lutiis, Connor Vest, Seru Uru, Joe Brial, Tom Robinson, Vaiuta Latu, Kalani Thomas, Jock Campbell (c), Tim Ryan, Dre Pakeho, Isaac Henry, Lachie Anderson, Heremaia Murray
Replacements: Theo Fourie, Sef Fa'agase, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Hamish Muller, Kohan Herbert, James Martens, Will Cartwright, Xavier Rubens
