JUST hours after David Shillington was named in the NRL All Stars team, the trash talk had already started with his Canberra Raiders teammate Tom Learoyd-Lahrs.
The two hulking forwards are eyeing each other off for an explosive clash in the exhibition match at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Shillington was called into the NRL All Stars squad last Friday after a wrist injury forced Raiders skipper Alan Tongue to withdraw.
Learoyd-Lahrs as well as fellow Canberra players Travis Waddell and Joel Thompson will line up for the Indigenous All Stars.
It sets the platform for two of the Raiders' biggest players to go head to head.
And, according to Shillington, neither will be holding back.
''It will be good to go up against blokes like Tommy Learoyd-Lahrs, we've been doing a bit of trash talking [yesterday],'' Shillington said.
''We get along well and I didn't really get to clash with him too much in the State of Origin [last year] because we were on at different times.
''But I'm sure we'll see each other this weekend, it's not so much rivalry, just friendly fire and neither of us will take a backwards step.
''We're both big blokes and we're both confident we can take down each other. We were just saying, 'from now on we're not mates', and that sort of stuff so I'm looking forward to it.''
Rugby league fans voted for their favourite players from each club who were then selected in the All Stars team.
Tongue was the most popular Canberra player with Shillington, Terry Campese and Joel Monaghan not far behind.
Injuries have forced withdrawals in both teams and Shillington was one of three changes to the NRL All Stars side.
English forward Sam Burgess replaced David Taylor while Robbie Farah was called up to play in Gareth Ellis's absence.
For Shillington, it continues his rise through the representative ranks having already played for Australia and Queensland.
Wayne Bennett will coach the NRL All Stars and Shillington said he was keen to learn as much as he could from his week in camp.
''It's a shame Tonguey's not getting a game, he's the heart and soul of the Raiders and it would have been nice for him to get some time in the spotlight,'' Shillington said.
''I reckon he's not that far off getting a big representative start ... but I'm happy to be in there and excited to rub shoulders with all those rep players.
