Wigan scrum-half Thomas Leuluai dusted himself down from his 24-hour journey on Wednesday and "ripped" into training at the Sydney Cricket Ground, venue for Friday morning's centenary Test.
The 22-year-old set off on his marathon journey from Cardiff, where he was in the Warriors side hammered 57-16 by St Helens on Sunday night, and has now linked up with his New Zealand team-mates ahead of their clash with the Kangaroos.
Leuluai will barely have time to get over the jet lag before catching a return flight to England to resume his duties with Wigan but there were never any second thoughts once the Kiwis won their tug of war for their little half-back.
"You just can't turn down offers to play for your country," he said. "It means such a lot to every Kiwi. If someone asks to you play, if you're fit, you play.
"I've done the trip a couple of times and it's pretty hard but you've just got to get there in the best shape you can and just rip in. That's the only way to look at it."
Wigan did their best to try to prevent Leuluai winning his 12th cap on Friday, enlisting the help of the Rugby Football League in their efforts, but the International Federation ruled against them, much to the player's relief.
"The club were pretty good about it," he said. "I said I wanted to play; they said it wasn't ideal and, if they could make it not happen, they would.
"I respected that. They're the ones who pay the bills and I've got nothing against the club. I'm just grateful it all worked out."
Leuluai will be under pressure to perform after new Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney fought tooth and nail to get him and went as far as pinpointing him the man to fill the boots of Stacey Jones, the former captain and maestro who retired after the 2006 Tri Nations Final.
Leuluai, who was first-choice number seven under previous coach Gary Kemble for last year's Test series against Great Britain, is wary of any comparisons with one of the game's all-time greats.
"People have talked about it for a while," he said. "Stacey Jones is a legend and I don't think anybody is going to get close to that.
"I'm not going to say I'm the next Stacey Jones or anything like that. But, if I can just go out there and do my job and help contribute to the team, I'll be happy."
New Zealand are expected to suffer at the hands of the world champions and Leuluai, who missed last October's record 58-0 defeat in Wellington, admits his side faces a tough task.
"Everyone who plays Australia are underdogs," he said. "We are going to have to be at our best to get them or even get close but I'm looking forward to it."
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