The world's best half-back has expressed his desire to make a permanent shift to five-eighth at all levels of the game in a bid to prolong his career.
Johnathan Thurston's wish has been granted for at least one night after he was selected at five-eighth for the Indigenous All Stars team ahead of the February 4 clash against the NRL All Stars on the Gold Coast.
But the 28-year-old revealed he's hoping to forge a new career in the No.6 jumper following the retirement of Queensland and Kangaroos stalwart Darren Lockyer.
"I've made no secret that I want to play six," Thurston said at the Indigenous Centre of Excellence in Redfern on Wednesday.
"I'm very familiar with that role, I played it all through my juniors, I moved to the Bulldogs as a six and made my debut as a six there at the Bulldogs and the Cowboys recruited me as a six, so I'm very familiar with the role and certainly would like to play it."
"Obviously we've got a lot of great halves in the competition and in these rep teams and I want to certainly try and move out to play six and hopefully make a career out of that too."
Pressed on the main differences between the two positions, Thurston explained: "You can sit back and choose when you want the ball and obviously five-eighth gives you a bit more room to do that."
"Definitely at seven you're on the ball a lot more, especially playing inside Locky so much, he likes to just sit out the back and get the ball when he's ready and certainly that's what I'd like to do as well and hopefully at the Cowboys that'll happen too."
He added when asked if he has broached his desire to change positions with club coach Neil Henry: "He's aware of it so once we find someone that can take control of our team where I can sit back and do what I like (it might happen) but until then I think I'll be playing seven."
The arrival of troubled Wests Tigers half-back Robert Lui in Townsville could see Thurston's wish granted sooner rather than later, but he says he's prepared for either outcome.
"I certainly want to prolong my career but if I have to play seven for the rest of my career then I will," he said.
Meanwhile, Thurston is looking forward to joining forces with Sandow for the Indigenous All Stars, in what could be a glimpse into the future for Queensland fans.
Sandow is third in line behind Cooper Cronk and Daly Cherry-Evans to partner Thurston in the halves for the Maroons in 2012.
"He's an exciting talent and he's a chief playmaker in the side at the Rabbitohs and he will be at the Eels and this is a good opportunity for him to stand up and do his job on the night," Thurston said.
"And you never know with the Queensland side, if there's a couple of injuries in the halves he could be straight in there."