Jaydn Su'A has never played in a Samoa-Tonga Test match but is willing to declare Sunday's all-Pacific meeting between the two nations to be on par with State of Origin.
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Su'A, a four-game Queensland representative, will start in the back row as Samoa aim to show they can be a genuine force at this year's Rugby League World Cup.
The Samoans were heavily fancied coming into the tournament but their all-star cast were given a lesson when hosts England put 60 on them to open the competition.
That defeat has cast a shadow over Samoa's form despite large wins over France and Greece.
A victory over Tonga at Warrington on Sunday (Monday AEDT) would therefore go some way to showing that the pre-tournament hype for Matt Parish's side was warranted.
"This is the State of Origin for the Pacific community," Su'A.
"Everyone back home, whether that's in Australia or New Zealand or Tonga or Samoa, it's going to be massive for them.
"I played in the Pacific tournaments growing up and the game with Tonga was the one you always looked forward to the most.
"I can't put into words how big this game will be for both communities. I'm sure you guys will see how much it means to the lads."
Rugby league's Pacific revolution was sparked by Tonga in 2017 and has led to many Samoa-eligble players such as Su'A declaring for their ancestral nation.
Tonga have since defeated Australia and New Zealand, and Samoa would love nothing more than to beat them to show they deserve a place at the game's top table.
"If we get anywhere close to what they've done with their country over the last couple of years, we'd be very proud," Su'A said.
"What they have done is something we want to replicate.
"To knock them off this week would be huge for us."
Australian Associated Press
