Incumbent Wallabies hooker Matt Faessler has set a high bar for his long-awaited return against the British & Irish Lions on Wednesday night.
Faessler, 26, has been racing the clock since severely damaging his hamstring on April 12, an injury that saw him miss Queensland's remaining Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Watch every game of the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
Now, the Reds rake is primed to tackle Maro Itoje's Lions - and he won't be settling for second place.
"We're not going out on Wednesday night just to participate," Faessler told reporters on Monday.
"By no means are we going into this game just going, 'oh, we're grateful to be here' - we want to play our style of footy and take it to them when we can.
"There probably wasn't a day gone by that I didn't think about trying to get back for playing the Lions in some regard whether it was this game, whether it was the AUNZ or in a gold jersey.
"Whatever it was, I was racing the clock and doing everything physically possible to put myself in the position to be able to play."
Faessler looms a key figure in the upcoming Test Series after nine starts in the gold jersey last year but was unsure whether he'd get the chance to pull on a Queensland jersey against the Lions.
Instead, the Toowoomba product might get to enjoy both after being released from Camp Wallaby alongside Hunter Paisami to lace up at Suncorp Stadium.
"When I got told that I was able to come back and get amongst the Reds boys again and play at Suncorp in front of a full house, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face," Faessler said.
"Yeah (I'm) really looking forward to the opportunity. You know, pressure is a privilege … it's super exciting, and I'm also just happy for the Queensland fans. It'll be an unreal atmosphere. - Caxton Street should be buzzing.
"So hopefully sold out Suncorp playing for the Reds, which is a club that I've always supported growing up and adored, and every time you put on a Reds jersey, you never take it for granted."
While Kiss' side will feature 11 internationals - including nine Wallabies and two All Blacks - Queensland still have a mountain to climb if they are to match their 1971 and 1899 heroics.
With Tate McDermott and Tom Lynagh both remaining in Camp Wallaby, Kalani Thomas will step up against Irish ace Jamison Gibson-Park with Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 21, set to tackle Scotland superstar Finn Russell.
Kiss told reporters if was a "wonderful opportunity" for the young halves and Queensland alike.
"It's a challenge, certainly, but it's an opportunity as well to test yourself against the best, and when you look at the pack they've picked, they certainly mean business.
"So it's important our pack can do a job enough for our boys to show a bit of their skill set as well. But to play against Finn Russell and Gibson Park, how cool."
REDS (1-15): Aidan Ross, Matt Faessler, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Seru Uru, John Bryant, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tim Ryan, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell (c)
Reserves: Josh Nasser, George Blake, Sef Fa'agase, Ryan Smith, Angus Blyth, Conor Vest, Louis Werchon, Isaac Henry
