Titans whizkid Jordan Rankin senses 2012 will be a year of great opportunity as the young fullback's pre-season kicks into another gear this Saturday night.
The 20-year-old has been named at No.1 for Gold Coast's trial match against the Brisbane Broncos at Pizzey Park this weekend.
While he played in Gold Coast's 26-10 loss against the Warriors in their first trial match for the year, Saturday night will be his first run in the jersey in which he'll play the majority of his football this season.
With utility William Zillman locked in as captain Scott Prince's full-time partner in the halves, Rankin knows the position is his to lose.
"I'm really excited," he said.
"I've had a pretty good pre-season as it is and every game I get playing fullback will be great for me, and building those combinations with Princey. That can only make me a better player."
The local lad first made headlines in 2008, when he became the third-youngest debutant in the history of rugby league at just 16 years and 238 days old.
However, after his first NRL match against Newcastle, the prospect of sticking around in the big time became more of an uphill battle than would have been expected.
After his history-making debut, Rankin was sent back to the Toyota Cup to develop his game and was unsighted at first-grade level for over two years.
But in the latter half of last year, he broke back into the NRL and ended up playing a total of eight games in Gold Coast's wooden spoon campaign, most of them in his favoured position at fullback.
Now that he's been earmarked as the Titans' No.1 for 2012, it's a case of getting on the same wavelength as the other key names in the side.
"At the moment we're just trying to get our sets right, getting our moves right and in the trials, that's the big thing for every team," Ranking said.
"The more games we play, the more combinations we can build through the team, it's going to be better for us come Round 1 and the beginning of the season."
Saturday night will be a particularly special occasion for Rankin, as he returns to the home turf of the junior club he grew up playing for, Burleigh Bears.
It'll be the first trial match played on the Gold Coast since 2008 and the youngster said he can't wait to go back to his old stomping ground.
"I haven't played there since I was about 16 or 17, so it'll be good to get out there in front of a home crowd. It'll be fun," he said.
"Playing there is always going to be good for me. I've got a lot of memories there and I can't wait to strap on the boots Saturday and get out there."
"It's going to be really good to play a home game on the Coast and the boys are really looking forward it - especially since it's against the Broncs."
Rankin will also be reunited with former Australian Schoolboys teammate and marquee Titans recruit, Jamal Idris.
The dreadlocked wrecking ball will sport Gold Coast colours for the first time after he missed the Warriors trial match due to Indigenous All Stars duty.
"We've got a bit of history there. He's now probably 20 kilos heavier than what he was back then," Rankin laughed.
"It's going to be exciting and I can't wait to see him and (fellow recruit) Beau Champion pull on the Titans' jersey for the first time."