Willie Mason has welcomed the chance to step outside his comfort zone when he makes his rugby union debut for the Barbarians against England on Sunday.
Mason has been named on the bench as a replacement centre for the showdown at Twickenham in what will be his first appearance since switching codes.
The colourful 31-year-old, who played 24 times for Australia's rugby league team between 2002-08, has been lured to union by big-spending French club Toulon.
A clash with England's second string is hardly the kindest of reintroduction to a game that he last played at school 14 years ago, but Mason is undaunted by the prospect.
"I haven't been this excited about a game for a while," said the 6'4", 18-stone Auckland-born player nicknamed 'Big Willie'.
"I'm way out of my comfort zone. I have thrown myself in at the deep end and I just can't wait to get out there and do it."
"I've played in plenty of big games before, it's not like I'm someone who doesn't know how to catch a ball, run, or tackle, which are the basics of rugby."
"Obviously I'm not going to go into the game thinking I'm going to get man of the match or anything, but I've got high expectations of myself as a player and a competitor."
"I'm not going go out there and be bullied around. I'll hold my own regardless if I'm playing a national side like England, which I have full respect for. But I am a competitor myself."
"It's a pretty big debut - against England at Twickenham, which is normally the highlight of your rugby career for many people."
Mason has a chequered disciplinary history and was voted the National Rugby League's most hated player in a fan poll in 2007.
His reputation also suffered at Hull KR, who last weekend released the controversial signing just six months into his three-year contract.
Patchy form in his six appearances for the club, the revelation he met officials from Toulon without permission and passport issues resulted in his acrimonious departure.
Toulon, who are reportedly paying him 395,000 pounds a year, have taken a considerable gamble on a player who joined Rovers after failing to find an NRL club.
At his best, however, Mason is a top-class operator who has repeatedly drawn admiring glances from union.
"I had a choice when I first came out of high school to play union or league," said Mason.
"Rugby league is a major sport in Australia and that's the way I went. I don't regret that."
"I played 12 years in league and achieved everything and I've been pretty happy with what I've done over there."
"I've always had the opportunity to come to rugby union but I've always chickened out at the end."
"I've had numerous meetings with [former Australia coach] Eddie Jones and the Wallabies two or three times during my NRL career, but always chickened out."
"Now I'm here and made the switch and I'm happy."
Mason, who played prop in league but has been earmarked for the centres in union, admits Sonny Bill Williams played a key role in his change of codes.
League convert Williams is set to feature for the All Blacks at this autumn's World Cup after being thrust into the limelight by a successful two-year spell at Toulon.
"We played the same position in league and we won a lot of things and played against