Queensland Reds tight head prop Zane Nonggorr has set himself the goal of securing a starting position in this year's Super Rugby Pacific competition.
The Southport School product debuted in 2020 and has played 13 SRP games for the Reds. A medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury cut short his season last year before he rallied to shine on Queensland's tour of Japan.
There is an opening for the Reds at tight head prop with one of the world's best in Taniela Tupou out for the entire season.
Tupou ruptured his Achilles tendon in Australia's 13-10 Test loss to Ireland in Dublin last November in a massive loss for the Wallabies and the Reds.
Queensland have bolstered their prop stocks with the signing of Fijian international Peni Ravai so Nonggorr has competition as he targets putting his name forward in the trial clash with Western Force in Perth on Saturday.
"It has been a very competitive pre-season," Nonggorr said.
"(Tupou) was a big loss as a pretty special player, but we have been working really hard as a front-row group to improve ourselves as a collective and individually.
"I have been working extra hard to fill the hole that he has left and hopefully put my name down to start for round one in that tight head spot."
Nonggorr said young prop Frances Sula-Siaosi would also keep him honest.
"He has been working on his trade in the tight head spot these last six weeks and has improved a lot," he said.
"There is definitely no guarantee that I will be starting and it has been a very competitive pre-season for round one."
Nonggorr said Brad Thorn and his coaching staff had been driving the squad hard ahead of the season start.
"They have stressed working hard on effort areas where it doesn't take much talent," he said.
