England v Canada: Dublin University's Canadian prop Forrest Gainer skips the middleman tomorrow afternoon when he faces the world champions in Twickenham. The step up from the All-Ireland League to provincial level is a challenge in itself but moving to the elite level, especially for a front-row merchant, is a Herculean demand.
Earning just his seventh cap, come scrum time he will receive a warm embrace from the Leicester veteran Graham Rowntree.
The 33-year old, plucked from the scrapheap by new England coach Andy Robinson, is the worst kind of opponent as he has a point to prove. However, Gainer is not intimidated by the challenge.
"I think I will cope with it just fine," said Gainer. "I've been doing really well in the AIL because of the international experience I got under my belt in the summer against Japan, France and England A.
"What's important is handling the nerves, not getting too excited, not peaking too soon and then unleashing hell for 80 minutes."
Considering Canada were thrashed 51-6 by Italy last weekend - Gainer was only exposed to the final 20-minutes - while England are kick-starting a new era under Robinson things look horribly grim. And yet, days like this don't come along too often.
"As a team we know we are massive underdogs but having said that we have nothing to lose - miracles can happen. Also, it is nice to have a team take us seriously. We get to measure ourselves against the best in the world."
Gainer intends to relish his time in the limelight - there is no better arena in which to launch oneself into the professional game: "The AIL is a decent standard but I'd kind of like to be paid from next year on so if I do well this weekend who knows."
Although not a student, he works as a conditioning coach on campus with the under-20s and does coaching in Willow Park School.
The Trinity connection comes via director of rugby Tony Smeeth, who spent 10 years coaching in North America. When tighthead props were thin on the ground two years ago he called Australian Dave Clarke, who runs the elite academy in Canada, known as the Pacific squad. Clarke gave him one name.
"Two summers ago I was just beginning to get a look-in with Canadian A side when Dave Clarke said a guy called Tony Smeeth in Dublin is looking for a tighthead and he asked would I be interested. I was given one week's notice to pack up my apartment, sell my car and get on a plane."
Next week, the focus immediately switches back to Dublin as the 25-year-old is a key component in the most eagerly-anticipated colours match in recent times.
With Trinity's promotion to Division One, there is renewed vigour that they can end the eight-match barren spell in the annual event, which also has league points on offer this year.
Twickenham to Donnybrook in six days, just another week in the life of an international Test player.
