It took ACT Brumbies lock Peter Kimlin about 16 hours to come to terms with the fact he had been selected in the Wallabies squad for next month's spring tour.
Coach Robbie Deans told the towering redhead he would replace injured Queenslander James Horwill on the end-of-year-tour of Hong Kong and Europe after training in Sydney on Wednesday night.
But it wasn't until Deans approached him yesterday that it finally clicked in Kimlin's head that he was on the cusp of realising his dream of playing for the Wallabies.
While it is well-known in rugby circles that Deans has had his sights on Kimlin for some time, the 23-year-old was stunned he was on the verge of making his Australian debut after just two Super 14 seasons.
"I came to training this morning and Robbie said to me 'how does it feel to be a Wallaby?'," Kimlin said.
"I just realised that 'geez it is true'. It still hasn't sunk in fully, I'm still battling to comprehend it, but once the excitement dies down hopefully I can put my head down and get into the team.
"I'm shocked and I'm bloody honoured to potentially play for the Wallabies."
He is the second Brumbies bolter to break into the Wallabies squad this season, following in the footsteps of still-uncapped prop Ben Alexander.
Kimlin has just 16 Super 14 caps only one in the starting team in two seasons with the Brumbies, playing behind experienced second-rowers Mark Chisholm and Al Campbell.
But a string of outstanding performances for Australia A in the Pacific Nation's Cup was enough to convince Deans he was the man to replace Horwill in his touring party.
Kimlin has been training with the Wallabies since Monday, joining Brumbies teammates Josh Holmes and Julian Salvi as invitees to experience mixing it with Australia's top-tier rugby stars.
Never did he expect a call-up which could elevate him into a cherished gold jersey next month.
Kimlin said he wasn't happy to rest simply knowing he was in the Wallabies' 34-man squad he now wants to win an outright place in the team.
"I think to make the squad is one thing, but to make the 22 is another," he said.
"I'm not saying I'm not over the moon to be named in the Wallabies squad, but to push to the next level would be great.
"It certainly is a scary thought playing for the Wallabies, but I'm sure when the time comes I'll be happy to take the field."
Kimlin made his Super 14 debut against the Cape Town Stormers last year following a stint with the Brumbies Academy.
He has been likened to Chisholm because of his high work rate and athleticism.
He predicted his five Australia A caps this year would hold him in good stead should he be called upon for Wallabies duties.
"To play in that competition and to have some consistent footy time I was playing every game and playing 80 minutes really helped my game," Kimlin said.
"It showed me what I need to do and where I need to be at to be the best in the country."
Kimlin's inclusion in the Wallabies squad brings the number of Brumbies on the tour to six.
He joins captain Stirling Mortlock, Alexander, Chisholm, Adam Ashley-Cooper and George Smith.
The Wallabies depart for Hong Kong on October 27 and will open the tour with the final Bledisloe Cup Test of the year against New Zealand in the Chinese city on November 1.