Queensland Reds playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is making good use of his opportunities, with the young Reds ten trusted to deliver against competition heavyweights Hurricanes.
McLaughlin-Phillips has been named for his third start of the year as they travel to Wellington to face the top-ranked side on Saturday.
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It comes with Carter Gordon ruled out with a lower leg issue, while Tom Lynagh is named to return from the bench.
The 21-year-old is fresh off a player-of-the-match performance against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka, embracing the competition around the group.
"One thing that 'Kissy' [Reds coach Les Kiss] said is just about owning your readiness, so whenever I get the chance or get called upon, I have to be able to deliver," he told reporters. "I'd say that's my most complete performance and being able to get a good win over there, it was a good feeling.
"I think the biggest thing is just the sharing of knowledge and discussions around things on field so being able to have four different viewpoints and opinions on things has been really good for my game and being able to see different things that I wouldn't normally notice myself."
Further changes from last week's game include the return of captain Fraser McReight, rested from the trip to Lautoka.
The win was the Reds' first in Fiji against the Drua, making it four on the trot after their opening season defeat.
"It was awesome. Obviously, we've gone over there four times now and that's our first time we've won so it was pretty special to do it and to do it on a day for Jock Campbell's 100th and Benny's [Volvavola's] debut," McLaughlin-Phillips said.
"It was a pretty cool feeling to get the win and celebrate with the boys."
But the playmaker knows they must lift their levels further to take down the Hurricanes, going up against fellow young gun Ruben Love at flyhalf.
"They're the best team in the comp for a reason, and we know that, so being able to try and impose our game on them and try and shut down their game is a really exciting challenge and something we're looking forward to as a team," he added.
"...Momentum is a funny thing. You can easily lose it and it's hard to gain. I think as a team we're just trying to keep it going but we know that it's not the be-all, end-all.
"If things happen, things happen. We're just trying to worry about week-to-week and play our best footy we can with the moment in front of us."
REDS (1-15): Aidan Ross, Josh Nasser, Nick Bloomfield, Seru Uru, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Joe Brial, Fraser McReight (c), Harry Wilson, Louis Werchon, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tim Ryan, Hunter Paisami, Isaac Henry, Filipo Daugunu, Jock Campbell
Replacements: Richie Asiata, George Blake, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Hamish Muller, Vaiuta Latu, Kalani Thomas, Tom Lynagh, Treyvon Pritchard
