"I reckon they might try and kill me," he told Fairfax Media when asked what sort of reaction he expected should he be used against the host nation at Suva's ANZ Stadium on Saturday. "I honestly don't know … it's going to be different, it's going to be interesting.

"If you're from a heritage or background where your family is from and you don't want to play for them, it's your decision.

"I think it's a great call, Australia taking some games over there and playing some trials with Fiji and PNG. It's special and I can't wait."

With 40-minute periods to be played against Papua New Guinea and Fiji, it is uncertain if forward Gillard will face his former Bati teammates. The Panther has one Fiji cap in 2014 and says he is overwhelmed to have been called into the Australian squad for Fifita. "I had sweaty palms for the hour I had to drive [into camp]," he said.

Asked to explain the difference between his own attitude to dual eligibility and that of the man he replaced, he said: "Obviously he's played for Australia and he knows what it's like to be here. He probably wants to experience something else from his heritage.