The memory of the late Arthur Beetson will spur on both sides in Saturday's NRL All Stars clash - not just the Indigenous team, according to Benji Marshall.
The Kiwi, who will captain the NRL All Stars side at Skilled Park, does not subscribe to theories that his men will not have the same levels of motivation as the Indigenous side.
While one team will be fueled by the pride of representing their people, the other on the surface does not have as much to play for - but Marshall said that feeling was not accurate.
The All Stars squad was chosen largely by rugby league fans, who had the opportunity to vote online in the lead-up to the game for who they wanted to see duke it out in the pre-season extravaganza.
Not only do they need to play well to show they deserve their spot, the Wests Tigers star said the camaraderie of the team also means players will want to fight for each other.
Combined with the tribute to Beetson, who the match is dedicated to with the trophy now named after him and each team bearing the signature of the Eastern Suburbs great on their jersey, Marshall said it was a match he genuinely wanted to win.
"It's a time when players for every club come together. The biggest thing for us is that we're training together every day," he said.
"We don't want to let each other down."
"But also, it's the first year where we're going for the Arthur Beetson trophy. What's written on the shirt pretty much says it - 'we play tonight in your honour'."
"The respectful thing for us to do is to give it our best and play as good as we can."
"The Indigenous people are playing for their people and their culture and for Arthur Beetson... well, we can play for those same reasons as well."
Marshall is a big fan of the All Stars concept, which comes into its third year now with all matches so far played in front of capacity crowds on the Gold Coast.
He said there was no need to tinker with the rules of the showpiece, aside from his own 'selfish' desire for native New Zealanders and Pacific Islanders to pull on the Indigenous strip.
"On a selfish level - because I'm indigenous from my country - I'd love the chance to maybe play for the other team," Marshall said.
"But then that would sort of take away from the indigenous Australian boys. I've gotten a chance to play with all the great Australian players, except the ones that are indigenous."
"I'd love to be passing the ball to GI out wide or running off JT. I've always wanted to play with them, the same way I wanted to play with Locky."
The 26-year-old will line up in the No.6 for the All Stars, alongside Melbourne Storm halfback Cooper Cronk in what is a dream ball-handling halves combination.
Marshall himself can't wait for it, but said he needed to maintain a balance between structure and showmanship in the representative fixture.
"The best thing about this game, playing with Cooper, is that he loves taking control. I can just sit back and call the ball when I feel," he said.
"But I don't want to just throw the ball around willy-nilly. I'll pick my times, but I'm sure there'll be a chance when someone can do something a bit flairy and that's what the fans want to see in these games. I'll try my best."
"I'm feeling good about moving back to six, and I'm really looking forward to it."