The hulking figure of George North is to be unleashed at outside centre for Wales against Australia on Saturday, but teammates have given the Northampton winger their full backing.
After injuries deprived coach Warren Gatland of regular midfield backs Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams, North stepped into the breach, with his usual left wing berth to be filled at the Millennium Stadium by Liam Williams.
North, just 22 but already capped 42 times by Wales and three times by the British and Irish Lions, has started only once in midfield for Wales before, during their victory over France during last season's Six Nations, but he also has experience there for English champions Northampton.
"It's exciting to play alongside him and we have to make sure we utilise George as best as we can," Racing-Metro inside centre Jamie Roberts said of lining up with North, who stands 1.94m (6ft 4in) tall for 109kg (17st 2lb).
"I played against him for Racing a few weeks ago and he played most of the second half at 13. He's quite scary to mark, I can tell you that."
Roberts added: "He's a very special player, he's certainly one of the best rugby athletes on the planet. He's very fast and agile for his size, he's a bit of a freak."
The pressure, however, will be on North and his team, seeking a first win over Australia since 2008, having lost the last nine encounters.
And Roberts' normal centre partner Jonathan Davies, injured in his club Clermont's European Champions Cup victory over Sale but likely to return for Fiji on November 15, said his former Scarlets teammate had been asking his advice.
"George has asked for a few things defensively but he's very comfortable and he's never let his country down when he's come in at 13," said Davies.
"He's just such a huge talent and he's in great form and he'll take to the role like a duck to water I'm sure."
Davies joked, however, that he would be having a quiet word with Gatland and his assistant coach Rob Howley that North remains a better winger than centre.
"I'll tell Rob Howley and Gats (Warren Gatland) that!" he said. "I don't want them to get too many ideas of him playing 13."
Howley, for his part, added: "George has gone there (centre) before, having been selected against France last season and gone there against Australia (last autumn).
"He is going to be stressed defensively in terms of his decision-making, but we are more than comfortable with George playing in the centre, and having another (British and Irish) Lion in Jamie alongside him will give him confidence."
Howley added: "It gives an opportunity to George to see another skill-set in him, and hopefully it will be a game where they have plenty of possession. With his pace and guile and ability to beat players we are more than comfortable with that partnership."
Ex-Wales centre Tom Shanklin was in no doubt North would cope, up against Tevita Kuridrani and Christian Leali'ifano in the centres, with Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley at half-back dictating a backline that also features veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper and Joe Tomane on the wings and the formidable Israel Folau at full-back.
"George moving to the centre doesn't concern me at all. He's a world-class player and he isn't going to get fazed," Shanklin told the Western Mail newspaper.
"He has got a huge amount of experience for someone of his age. Yes, he's playing slightly out of position, but he will take that in his stride. He is the in-form back in European rugby, he is the one scoring tries.
"He is lighting up the (English) Aviva Premiership and he was outstanding against the Ospreys the other week. The more he gets his hands on the ball the better and he will see more of it in the centre. Put it this way, I wouldn't want to be marking him!"
Source: AFP