Brisbane and Queensland prop Pat Carrigan is ready for fireworks when he clashes with his close Penrith buddies in round one of the NRL.
Carrigan has spoken previously about the great bonds of mateship he forged with the Penrith contingent on Australia's winning World Cup tour last year.
That fraternity will all go out the window in Penrith on Friday, March 3 and then later in the year in State of Origin.
"It is a weird feeling and it will be even weirder being mates with some of those guys from the World Cup, but then rolling around into an Origin series or even an NRL game," Carrigan said.
"I am sure come round one Marto' (Penrith and Australian forward Liam Martin) or someone will try and get me and it will be all on. That's when you remember who you are playing for.
"We are good mates but there are no mates in Origin."
Even with his Broncos teammate and NSW opponent Payne Haas, Carrigan said it would be "gloves off".
Haas will be alongside him against Penrith where the Broncos face an early litmus test.
"You will see where you are at. There is no beating around the bush with it," Carrigan said.
"They are the back-to-back premiers. If you want to do anything in this game then you want to beat the best. Expectations are high of us. Same as them. It will be on the line in round one."
Carrigan was last year's Wally Lewis Medal winner as best player of the State of Origin series, where he inspired Queensland's series win.
Broncos and Maroons great Petero Civoniceva won his first Origin series in 2001 and became one of the world's best props for the next decade where he set the highest standards. He said Carrigan must do the same.
"When you are a representative player you take ownership of that so whenever you run out in an NRL fixture you have to showcase why you are a rep player," Civoniceva told AAP.
"Pat has already shown he can carry that title well.
"The way he came back last year (from a knee reconstruction) showcased what a genuine leader he is going to become for the Broncos, Queensland and Australia.
"I am really excited to see what transpires on the back of last year's form. If Brisbane have success this year it will be with him leading the way."
Carrigan said there was "no better ambassador for doing something like that than Petero".
"I want to hold myself to that standard," Carrigan said.
"If you are going to be a good rep player and a leader at your club, first and foremost you have got to play good footy. That is my priority."
Carrigan was speaking at the announcement of the three-year extension of the Queensland Rugby League's sponsorship by Hostplus, which secured naming rights for the Queensland Cup and will also adorn the Maroons' women and men's jerseys.
