Isaah Yeo and Matt Burton both grew up playing in their backyards and on the fields around Dubbo dreaming of running out in the NRL.
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For both of them that dream has come true but one thing they never thought they'd get the chance to do is play a top-flight match back at home.
That will change this weekend when the Panthers take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Apex Oval and both St John's juniors are still slightly pinching themselves.
"To play back at home is pretty special. It's up there with one of the main occasions for me," Burton said.
"I've dreamt about it so many times. I can't wait, I'm so excited."
Burton made his debut for the Panthers last year and has come into the game at a time when there has been more of a focus on the bush.
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Six matches are being played in regional areas this season but that wasn't the case so much for Yeo when he left Dubbo to play with the Panthers under 20s in 2013.
He went on to make his NRL debut the following year and he admitted when he imagined himself playing in Dubbo again it was something that came after his career at the top level had finished.
"I was footy-mad as a kid, as are most country kids ... it's exciting to go back and play," the Panthers back-rower said.
"I never thought it would be the case unless I retired and went and captain-coached so to do this, I'm bloody excited."
While chatting to the media on Wednesday, the pair joked about the battle they and some other Panthers have been having to get their hands on tickets for Sunday's game.
Yeo and Burton have been inundated by requests from family and friends and Burton admitted he wouldn't even be able to put a number on the amount of people who are close to him who will be at Apex for the massive clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
"It's one of those games where you realise where you are. I've definitely pencilled it in, it's exciting," Yeo said.
"My grandparents don't get to come to as many games ... that will be pretty special and hopefully we can perform well in front of them."
Given they grew up as "footy mads" kids in the country, the Dubbo pair know just how important this weekend's match can be.
Tickets went like wildfire for the fixture, with both the Panthers and Rabbitohs having a huge fanbase in the region.
The match will give back to those passionate fans and potentially inspire the next generation of players from the bush, much like the City-Country fixture at Dubbo in 2014 did for Burton.
The youngster - whose form this year has resulted in him being tipped as an outside chance of making the Blues' Origin squad - continued playing at home and in Group 11 until 2019.
He and Charlie Staines, another former Western Rams star now at Penrith, went head-to-head in the 2018 Group 11 grand final when CYMS took on the Forbes Magpies.
"It's something you want to see. There's kids out there who love it so much," Burton said, adding he hopes the NRL continues to take games to regional areas.
"Definitely. I think it's a great concept to go out there. Like at Bathurst a couple of weeks ago and now back at home will be something special."
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