Respect for his opponents and teammates beside him will drive Dolphins lock Tom Gilbert to fire when he returns to Townsville to play his former club North Queensland.
The 22-year-old will lock horns with his close friend and Cowboys prop Reuben Cotter in the NRL round six clash on Friday night.
Gilbert just wants to walk off the field with a win and his head held high.
"You can't get emotional about games like this. It is selfish if you think about it being about yourself and a big homecoming," Gilbert told AAP.
"It is about doing your job. That is black and white for me.
"I've always wanted to make sure that when I was going up there it wasn't about me, it was about my team, the Dolphins.
"The Cowboys did a lot for me and I just want to play a game that is the product of the player they helped me to become.
"They played a big part in my journey from the age of 15. I am still in touch with a lot of the boys there and I want to make sure the blokes who put a lot of effort into me didn't waste their time."
Gilbert signed with the Cowboys as a 15-year-old, made his NRL debut there and established himself as one of the game's best young forwards last year when the team reached the preliminary final.
After making his Maroons debut in 2022, Gilbert signed with the Dolphins to be closer to his extended Brisbane family and play with a group of hard-headed forwards such as Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi and Mark Nicholls.
He has not forgotten warrior Cowboys prop Cotter's influence.
"Reuben was a big mentor for me and a huge role model, as well as being one of my best mates," Gilbert said.
"He made me believe in what I could become as a footy player and helped me go to the next level. I watched him, admired him and wanted to have his back."
When Gilbert crosses the white line there is no quarter given, and he knows Cotter will have the same approach on Friday night.
"That is something Reuben has instilled in me. It is always about giving your best," Gilbert said.
"No doubt after the game we will both want to share a moment together after knowing we both did our jobs for our team."
Gilbert reflected on all the people at the club who helped him, including Cowboys general manager of football Micheal Luck, who presented him with his Cowboys kit as a 15-year-old at boarding school.
"He helped me on and off the field and we had a great relationship, and that had a ripple effect with the coaches Toddy (Payten) and (assistant) Dean Young, who I got on with really well,'' Gilbert said.
The Dolphins have lost two games in a row after winning their first three.
"It is all about getting back to what we are good at," Gilbert said.
"That's high completions and making sure each individual does their job from the first kick-off until the end. It is all underpinned by effort, hard work and lots of energy."
