Brisbane young gun Georgia Bartlett had a bird's eye view of Sydney Roosters superstar Jessica Sergis at the Dally M awards and their two worlds are set to collide in a totally transformed environment in the NRLW grand final.
The challenge of marking Sergis in the centres on Sunday "excites" rather than daunts her.
On Wednesday night 22-year-old Bartlett was in the audience at the player awards showpiece as a nominee for NRLW rookie of the year.
She watched Sergis, a NSW and Australia representative since 2017 and 2019 Dally M Medal and Golden Boot winner, go on stage to take her place in the NRLW team of the year.
There is a no-nonsense, quiet confidence about Bartlett ahead of the biggest challenge of her footballing life and rightly so after scoring six tries and setting up eight in her 13 matches this season. She hasn't missed a tackle in her past three games.
Bartlett did a superb job marking Gold Coast centre Georgia Grey, former rugby sevens player and daughter of former Wallabies centre Nathan Grey, in the 20-8 preliminary final win.
The powerhouse Grey was well contained, largely due to her opposite number's defensive clout.
Now it's Sergis in her sights.
"It doesn't get any easier, it truly doesn't," Bartlett told AAP.
"I have got a tough battle this weekend but I am always up for a challenge.
"I am so lucky I get backed up by my teammates and (head coach) Scott Prince and the coaching staff. I wouldn't be up for it without their support.
"If I do my job correctly, the rest should happen."
Bartlett has been aware of Sergis and her reputation ever since the NRLW started.
"It is a bit of a weird feeling going up against someone you admire and acknowledge for the work they have done in the women's game but to be up against her is a cool feeling and really exciting," she said.
Bartlett was given the task of filling in for star five-eighth Ali Brigginshaw at No.6 for three games when the veteran was suspended. The Broncos lost to the Roosters in one of those club matches so she didn't get the chance to go head-to-head with Sergis.
Bartlett said her introduction to rugby league two years ago had been "quite the journey" after after being a touch football star in her younger days.
Last year was a development season at the Broncos before being elevated to the top 24 on a two-year deal.
She plays in a centre position that current star winger Julia Robinson held in two of her four grand final wins.
"I am very grateful to play for what is in my opinion the greatest club in rugby league," she said.
"I feel privileged to also represent the players that have gone before me and there have been some great centres. Robbo is one of them and I am lucky to have been guided by her throughout this season as well."
