He started the 2009 Super 14 season as the Reds' second choice scrum-half, but Will Genia is confident his meteoric rise to the top of Australian rugby union will not be a flash in the pan.

Genia has been promoted to number nine for Saturday's Tri-Nations Test against South Africa, with regular half-back Luke Burgess dropped to the bench.

"I started off with Queensland as the bench half-back and personally I always thought that I could start as the Reds half-back, it was just about preparing myself," Genia said. "I never really had that (national selection) in my mind to be honest I was more focused on starting for Queensland and playing good consistent rugby for Queensland."

He added: "It's a great honour. I want to make the most of it."

Swift ascents to the top are nothing new for the 21-year-old, of course.

Genia grew up in Papua New Guinea, where his only exposure to sport was through television and heroes such as Steve Waugh and Andrew Johns.

"When I was a younger I didn't play any sports - rugby league was massive and I watched a lot of it on TV, but I was more stuck playing backyard cricket," he said.

After moving to Australia, Genia started playing cricket with Brisbane Boys' College but soon found his niche as a winger in the school's rugby union side.

"I didn't play any team sport till I went to BBC in 2000. I was lucky I was an islander and they said come down to (rugby) trials.

"Because I was an islander, everyone just assumed I'd be good," he laughed.