Departing prop Ben Matulino leaves some big boots to fill at the Warriors next year but Sam Lisone is not shying away from the chance to fill the void.
The Warriors forwards have been under the pump this season and the club is currently in the market to bolster the pack, with Kiwis captain Adam Blair the No 1 target.
After a slow start to the season due to injury, Matulino has regained some of his best form and, with 211 games under his belt, the 23-test Kiwi will not be easy to replace.
But as Matulino prepares to play his final match for the Warriors on Sunday against the team he is joining, Wests Tigers, Lisone said it is up to the players already in the squad to lift their game.
"I'm 24 next years, I've been behind Ben my whole career so it's time someone has to step up," Lisone said. "We've got a healthy prop rotation next year, (James) Gavet, Albie (Albert Vete), Ligi (Sao), so one of us has got to step up and fill the void and I'll be keen to if I have to."
Lisone has more reason than most to send Matulino out a winner this weekend.
As a young player coming into first grade, Matulino was somewhat of a mentor to Lisone, showing him the ropes in the rough and tumble world of life as an NRL front-rower.
It was only natural the pair struck up a close friendship and Matulino's generosity stretched far beyond the field.
"Pretty much my whole career he's looked out for me. When I was coming through, that's when he bought me boots, he gave me my dream car, Subaru WRX, he hooked me up," Lisone said.
"So yeah, he looked after me pretty good."
About to complete his third year in the NRL, Lisone has performed well in patches but, much like the rest of the team, has struggled for consistency in 2017.
The 23-year-old plays with no shortage of aggression, which can at times back-fire with the referees, although feels he has done a better job of finding the right balance.
After coming off the bench for the majority of his 62 appearances, Lisone is poised to start his sixth-straight game on Sunday, which he believes will hold him in good stead for next season.
"I don't like taking a backward step but I know when to pull it back when I'm in the wrong and going too aggressive," he said.
"Obviously we haven't got the results on the field but just being out there, starting a few games, playing more minutes it's pretty that's probably the positive out of my season."
Meanwhile, Lisone has been enjoying some pre-game banter with Tuimoala Lolohea as the latter prepares to square off against his old teammates.
The pair came through the Warriors system together and were part of the under-20s team that won the 2014 NYC grand finale, before Lolohea was released mid-season to join the Tigers.
"I talked to him on [Tuesday night]. I told him I'm going to come after you, he's like 'yeah, come on'," Lisone said laughing.
"I'm really happy for him, he's doing some good things over there. At the end of the day, we're brothers. He's doing his thing; we're doing ours but when we see each other nothing changes. He's still the same old Tui."
Photo: ANDREW CORNAGA/PHOTOSPORT Caption: Prop Sam Lisone is set to start his sixth-straight game for the Warriors.