Coach Andrew Webster admits he is excited to watch two Queensland Cup products do battle when his Warriors clash with North Queensland on Saturday.
Rookies Taine Tuaupiki and Tom Chester have been named at fullback for their respective sides, with the Warriors young gun set for his NRL debut and Chester a maiden starting berth.
Tuaupiki scored 14 tries in 22 games, averaged 147 running metres, had 22 try assists and won rookie of the year in the 2022 Q-Cup with Burleigh Bears.
The 23-year-old was upgraded from a train-and-trial deal at the Warriors to begin 2023 and replaces Charnz Nicoll-Klokstad at fullback after the latter suffered a concussion in their round-two loss to Sydney Roosters.
Webster is hoping his side can execute their game plan and come away with two points in forecast hot conditions, but was animated when asked about the fullback duo.
"It will be really exciting - just to see them perform well will be really cool," he told reporters as the Warriors arrived in Townsville.
"(Taine's) earned the right, he's come through the Queensland Cup and he's never given up on his dream.
"He's an exciting player, Taine. He's a hard worker....a really good talker, he's your traditional type fullback in that way. And he's brave, certainly brave."
For Townsville-product Chester, Saturday's NRL fixture will be the second of his career following a debut off the bench in Rd 18, 2022 against Cronulla.
The 21-year-old replaces Scott Drinkwater in the fullback jersey after the regular starter took an early guilty plea and three-game suspension at the judiciary following a high-shot on Brisbane's Corey Oates in round two.
Chester said having the one NRL game under his belt certainly settles the nerves and coach Todd Payten has instructed him to play his own game.
"He's told me: don't play like Drinky, play the way I play and focus on my strengths," Chester said.
"I played a couple of games against him (Tuaupiki) in Q-Cup so it should be exciting."
Gehamat Shibasaki will make his Cowboys debut in place of Peta Hiku (suspension) in Saturday's match while Warriors skipper Tohu Harris will bring up a milestone 200th NRL game.
