He may have made his name as a bruising backrower but Greg Bird says he now plans to make the Blues' No.6 jersey his own.
Bird's three previous representative appearances have been as a replacement five-eighth - first as cover for the injured Braith Anasta in Origin III last season before filling in for Darren Lockyer in two Tests against the Kiwis.
But having been given the nod as the first-choice pivot for Wednesday's series opener, the uncompromising 24-year-old is keen to secure his new position beyond the 2008 series.
"It'd be nice to sort of keep this jersey," Bird said ahead of Friday's training session at the Sydney Football Stadium.
"I guess in the past there's been players who have really put a stamp on certain positions."
"I really enjoy playing five-eighth at Origin (level) and hopefully in the future if my form warrants and if I go alright Wednesday night I can keep playing it."
But while Bird has proven himself at the highest level in the past, the Sharks enforcer is awake to the dangers of over confidence.
"I don't know whether anyone's perfectly suited to this footy, it's pretty physical and I think it's the toughest level of rugby league you can play," Bird said.
"And I suppose you can't really go out there complacent because if you do they'll trump you and you'll get your fair serving."
"I'm not getting too overconfident with the game and the way I'm playing, I'm just going to go out there and hopefully do what I did last year and hopefully come out with a win this time."
Bird's selection at pivot certainly raised some eyebrows, as did the selection of specialist fullback Karmichael Hunt as his direct opponent.
But Bird expects the former Kangaroos fullback will be up to the challenge.
"He's a pretty skilful bloke and he slips into the line when he is playing fullback and sometimes plays like a five-eighth," Bird said.
"I don't think there's any reason why he can't do a job there."
However, Bird warned his opposite number to prepare for a heavy workload as the Blues intend to direct heavy traffic at the makeshift No.6.
"We have been doing a lot of work in our attack towards running at blokes that aren't used to making as many tackles as he's probably going to have to make but I think he'll do a good job."