Tamika Upton declined an unexpected offer to play for the Indigenous All Stars in 2020 because of a pre-booked holiday to Bali before injury sidelined her last year.
But the leading fullback will finally represent her culture against the Maori All Stars at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night, much to the delight of coach Ben Jeffries.
A two-time NRLW premiership winner with Brisbane and a Queensland State of Origin linchpin, the 24-year-old's debutant status belies her experience and class.
"Nothing seems to faze Meeks and she's a big-game player, you could say," Jeffries said.
Upton's battle with rival No.1 Botille Vette-Welsh will be crucial as the Indigenous team attempt to avenge last year's 24-0 loss to the Maori Ferns, who lead the head-to-head score 2-1.
"I look across at the side that Benny's got - there's quality right across the paddock and they're very well coached, so we're expecting a really intense struggle," Maori Ferns coach Keith Hanley said.
"We've got our work cut out for us."
The Maori Ferns have selected an extremely well-credentialed debutant of their own in 38-year-old Lavinia Gould, the premiership-winning Broncos hooker who played rugby union for New Zealand.
"For all our girls it carries a fair bit of depth in terms of meaning, but for Lavinia, given she's pretty much ticked every other box in the game, (it was) a very, very moving experience for her," Hanley said.
The All Stars will kick off a bumper year of women's rugby league featuring two NRLW campaigns, the first of which begins on February 27.
"Twelve months of rugby league for us is a big change, but women can do anything. I think adapting to it will be really good," Indigenous co-captain Caitlan Johnston said.
