Queensland lock Lukhan Salakai-Loto is more than happy to stoke a few friendly fires as his Wallabies teammates prepare to turn lock horns in Super Rugby Pacific.
In his first press conference since returning from Test duties, Salakai-Loto revealed the pre-season banter between Australia's Test stars had already begun with former club teammate Taniela Tupou his first casualty.
Watch every game of Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
"(Taniela) actually sent me a picture of him in a Waratahs jersey and I thought I was looking at a picture of the sky on my phone - he's that massive," Salakai-Loto joked on Monday.
"I've already got into him a little bit. Told him that it's not right, doesn't look right."
Tupou's not the only one in new colours with Salakai-Loto linking back up with Queensland following Melbourne's exit but the 28-year-old has no hard feelings about the Rebels, nor his abrupt departure from Ballymore in 2022 after 69 Reds caps.
"It was a bit of a weird one. It was something I needed but I didn't realise I needed until I left. I felt like i did a lot of growing up overseas, a lot of growing up in Melbourne," Salakai-Loto explained.
"I've got two kids, now, got a family of my own. There's a lot of lessons you learn on and off the field when you leave the nest and it's been the best thing for me, those experiences."
"I felt like I thrived (in Melbourne), felt like it was probably one of my better seasons and provided an opportunity for me to lead and lead through my actions. I really benefited from my time down in Melbourne and I feel like that's put me in good stead to come back here and have an impact."
Salakai-Loto's impact was certainly felt in the Test arena last year with the six-foot-six lock putting his 124 kilograms to good use across 11 Wallaby appearances.
A mammoth showing across the opening two months of Super Rugby Pacific paved way for his inclusion against Wales with Salakai-Loto now finding himself front and centre ahead of the upcoming British & Irish Lions Series.
That - and the lure of a 2027 home Rugby World Cup - is enough to excite any Australian rugby player.
"It (the British & Irish Lions Tour) is something you want to be a part of. Everyone here plying their trade in Australia has one eye on that. Anyone who tells you they're just focused on performing for their club are lying," Salakai-Loto said.
"They want to be a part of it and you should want to be a part of it. I think it'll only bring out the best in players. We've got four strong teams now and hopefully it'll make us stronger and see performances improve across the board.
"You ask anyone past or present if they'd like to be invovled in a home world cup, they'll say the same answer - definitely."
