There'll be more than a little bit of Ballina filling the stands of Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday as Brian Kelly runs out for his 100th game as a Gold Coast Titan.
The popular centre brings up his milestone game at home and having grown up in the region, he expects his friends and family to turn out in droves.
"Legit, I had about four or five cousins or six or seven phone calls from brothers and aunties and that asking for tickets," he laughs.
"It'd be easier for them to jump on a bus and come up and hopefully I can get that win in front of family and friends."
A proud Northern Rivers boy, Kelly says he loves the chance to return home to connect with his community - a key to his time playing at the Titans.
"I went down home on the weekend to freshen up for round one and I caught up with all of the family and friends," Kelly said.
"I had one of my best mates weddings on Friday, and I actually played my first game of rugby league with him, so to play my 100th game and get him to come up and watch that it's good.
"Everyone in my small community down there in Ballina gets me geed up and it's a warm place in my heart to represent them.
"I'm just keen to get out there and rip in."
After two seasons with the Manly Sea Eagles, 2024 represents sixth season on the Coast.
After notching a milestone again in round one, he'll bring up another shortly after with the 27-year-old to play his 150th NRL game in round five.
"It's a proud achievement for myself and my family.
"It is the closest club to home and I feel like Goldie is home and to play 100 games here I'm very proud."
The former Paul Broughton Medallist says he has relished a big pre-season under a new coach and time spent competing with a new centre partner.
"It's been a fun pre-season under Dessie (Hasler)," Kelly said.
"He is a bit more old-school and rips into the boys a bit more but it is just what is best for the team."
With AJ Brimson moving into the centres, Kelly says the two have been going head-to-head in pre-season training.
"Me and AJ have had some good battles out there throughout the pre-season but I'm just looking forward to not versing him and having him on my team," he said.
"I'm just trying to test him out, there is a bit more tackling to do compared to at fullback.
"He's been doing really well and I'm excited to play with him."
