NSW veteran Isaah Yeo has urged his teammates to embrace the atmosphere at a packed Accor Stadium in Wednesday's State of Origin opener.
Eight NSW players will run on to the field for the first time in an Origin clash for a moment like few others in Australian sport.
While the enormity of the occasion can get the better of some players, Yeo encouraged the Blues youngsters to soak it all in as they play in front of 80,000 screaming fans.
"It's just about the greatest feeling that you can have on a rugby league field," Yeo said. "It's extremely special for a NSW person walking down that tunnel. A lot of the boys are living out their childhood dreams.
"A few of the boys have been lucky enough to have done it previously, but it's like nothing you'll ever have again outside of football. We're very lucky to be in the environment right now and just soaking it all in."
Accor Stadium is the focal point of Australian sport this week with the Matildas playing China at the venue on Monday night.
A full house will watch the clash, with more than 160,000 fans descending on the Homebush precinct in the space of three nights.
Blues take the tunnel to Origin decider
The Blues are sharing the same hotel with the Matildas and will sit in the stands for Monday's soccer match.
For many, it will provide a sneak peek of what to expect on Wednesday night.
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"It helps that you've seen or been in that environment," Yeo said. "As a group it just keeps us all together and it's a bit of fun together. In terms of that, you're not seeing anything new come Wednesday.
"Just two days beforehand, you've seen it all sold out and what 80,000 looks like, in that sense it helps."
New fullback James Tedesco trained with the Blues for the first time on Monday morning after he was drafted into the squad on Sunday following Dylan Edwards' quad injury.
Injury clouds have hovered over the side since Michael Maguire named his team last week, with Nicho Hynes managing a calf complaint.
The halfback successfully completed the Blues opposed session with the Bulldogs' Jersey Flegg team on Monday morning and appeared to have no issues kicking the ball.
Hynes and Zac Lomax practiced shots at goal at the end of training, with the winger taking multiple attempts at field goal throughout the session.
Hudson Young has also spent time training in various positions and shapes as the Blues' bench utility.
The Raiders forward made his NSW debut last season but was dropped after Game Two and missed out on the opportunity to play on home soil.
He did, however, watch from the stands as the Blues avoided a clean sweep and Young declared he's ready to fill any role on Wednesday night to help his state.
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"I feel like that’s been me my whole career," Young said. "Coming through the juniors at Newcastle as a half and transitioning to an edge player at Canberra, I’m happy to play anywhere.
"I’ve locked down that second-row spot in Canberra but when I started there it was as a middle. In clubland I cover injuries in the outside backs.
"I’m prepared for whatever it takes for the team. There’s a plan in place for every position, that’s something Madge has done really well. There’s things that happen through games and Origin games never go to plan, but there’s always plan B."