The Wests Tigers insist age will be no barrier as they prepare to contend with the greatest gulf in halves experience in premiership history against Brisbane.
With Jarome Luai suspended, the Tigers will partner teenagers Latu Fainu and Lachlan Galvin together for only the third time on Saturday night.
The two 19-year-olds have played 35 NRL games between them since making their debuts last season.
At Brisbane, the Broncos have two players at the opposite end of the spectrum in 35-year-old Ben Hunt and 34-year-old Adam Reynolds.
The duo are the second-oldest halves pairing on record behind Cliff Lyons and Des Hasler at Manly in 1996.
They also became the most experienced pairing in history upon linking up this season, with 629 NRL games between them.
But regardless, the Tigers are adamant the whopping 594-game gap will not faze Fainu and Galvin under the bright lights of Suncorp Stadium.
"These young kids these days are full of confidence, and have the skill and talent to back it up," Tigers veteran Alex Twal said.
"It's just about some of us senior players stepping up and guiding them through.
"I am sure they are looking forward to the opportunity this week and Saturday night."
"They'll do an awesome job. I have full faith in them. They worked together in the pre-season and I am sure they will be ready to go come Saturday."
Fainu and Galvin have played together before in the NRL for mixed results.
The Tigers were beaten 48-30 by North Queensland and 60-26 in the spoonbowl clash with Parramatta last season, in the pair's two games starting together.
But they also engineered one of the biggest upsets of 2024, producing a comeback win over Manly once Fainu came off the Leichhardt bench.
All three of those games were without young fullback Jahream Bula, who believes Fainu can help bring out the best in both himself and Galvin.
"He's got a really good running game," Bula said of Fainu.
"He is strong, athletic and really skilful as well. He can ball play, and that is really good for Lachy in that he can open up the back field for Lachy and me."
Bula said coach Benji Marshall had made it clear to the pair that their youth should not be an issue.
"If you're good enough, you're old enough to play," Bula said.
"That's what Benji says to me, and he said to them as well when they debuted.
"He puts his trust in all of us younger boys because I think he sees a lot of himself in some of us.
"And they just enjoy playing footy and they want the ball in their hands. When they have the ball in their hands they can create opportunities for others."
