David Kidwell's Maori team will dedicate Saturday night's NRL All Stars performance to the pioneering Olsen Filipaina.
Filipaina, 64, died on Thursday after spending 16 days in ICU battling kidney failure.
Among the first Polynesian players to feature in the NSWRL premiership during the 1980s, Filipaina was lauded by Kidwell for forging a pathway.
"Olsen was of Maori and Samoan heritage and he laid the footprint for what is now 45 per cent Maori, Pasifika and Islander (players) in the NRL today," coach Kidwell said.
The NRL will honour the former Balmain, Easts and North Sydney five-eighth as well as Immortal Johnny Raper, who died aged 82 on Wednesday, before the All Stars kick-off.
Kidwell and Indigenous coach Laurie Daley declared their sides will aim to entertain at CommBank Stadium as the fixture is played in Sydney for the first time.
Daley is particularly excited to call upon dynamic debutants Tyrell Sloan and Selwyn Cobbo and expects playmaker Albert Kelly to fire.
Perhaps indicating the Maoris will base their game on power, Kidwell nominated hulking forwards Tuku Hau Tapuha and TC Robati as ones to watch.
While the Indigenous line-up is missing Latrell Mitchell (suspension) and Cody Walker (interrupted pre-season), the South Sydney stars have still had an impact.
They spent several hours with the squad on Thursday and participated in the jersey presentation.
"Latrell's a leader," Indigenous captain Josh Addo-Carr said.
"For him and Cody to come and show their support to the young fellas, teach them about culture and what this game means to us, it's huge."
Last year's All Stars game ended in a 10-all draw, but the Maori team hold the trophy having won 30-16 in 2020.
"The result is not as big as what the game is," Maori co-captain Joe Tapine said.
"Bringing the two cultures together and celebrating us is what it's all about."
