Brisbane forward Jai Arrow says he is not getting ahead of himself despite being the first player named to replace retired captain Corey Parker in the Broncos' No.13 jersey.
Arrow has been named at lock for this Saturday's trial clash with the Sharks at Dolphin Oval in what will be the Broncos' first serious hit-out of the pre-season.
The match looms as an early preview of life after Parker, with a young forward pack set to battle it out for starting positions.
The Broncos will start the 2017 NRL season with at least two positions in the forward pack up for grabs, with the improved Jarrod Wallace leaving for the Gold Coast Titans at the end of 2016.
For that reason Brisbane have fielded a strong forward pack for Saturday night's match, with young stars Tevita Pangai Jnr, Herman Ese'ese and Joe Ofahengaue all starting alongside Arrow.
But it won't be a walk in the park for the up and coming Broncos, with the 2016 premiers fielding a side that boasts representative players Paul Gallen (who has stepped down from representative duties) and Andrew Fifita in the starting line-up.
It will looms as a good test to start the year for Arrow and his teammates, with the 21-year-old wanting to make 2017 his most consistent year yet.
"I wouldn't say securing the No.13 jersey is the ultimate goal for this year," Arrow said.
"Hopefully I get a few cracks there but I understand there is a lot of competition.
"I'm still young so my main goal at the moment is to just play consistent football for the Broncos.
"Hopefully if I do that I'll get the opportunity to play week in, week out.
"I'm really looking forward to the year because I think we have a really good squad."
Full line-ups for the Broncos v Sharks trial
With Brisbane's competition for starting forward spots at an all-time high, it is important to remember the new faces who will also be fighting for a place in the Broncos' 17.
Korbin Sims and Mitchell Dodds headline the new talent at Red Hill, with the latter looking to earn back the bench spot he made his own in 2015.
Dodds was an integral part of Brisbane's 2015 grand final charge, with the underrated workhorse playing 19 games for the Broncos that season before having a one-year stint in the English Super League in 2016.
Unfortunately Dodds broke his leg in two places when playing for the Warrington Wolves and missed majority of the 2016 season.
For that reason Brisbane are being particularly careful with the 27-year-old, omitting him from both the Downer Auckland Nines and their trial with Cronulla-Sutherland.
But Arrow has no doubt Dodds will be a prominent fixture for the Broncos in their 2017 NRL season, insisting that his presence has already been felt around the club.
"Mitch is a great bloke and he's really added to the squad," he said.
"He's been great around the club and he really looks after all the younger guys.
"It's something he will continue throughout the year so I'm really glad he's back at the club."
