The 20-year-old is breaking new ground as part of the New Zealand Maori rugby league team to face the Indigenous All-Stars on Friday night in Melbourne.

He's set to start at five-eighth on the big stage for the first time in his senior career.

But Ponga is more worried about the Maori war dance.

“I've been learning the Haka over the last couple of days - I haven't done a Haka for about eight years so I still haven't got it down pat but I will get it done by Friday,” Ponga said. “For me, it's all new but I'm excited to get out there and do it.”

After spending his breakout season last year at fullback, Ponga said he was ready to take on the playmaking duties - although he joked he hoped his back-rowers would be making a few tackles for him.

“I've been training there the whole pre-season so I'm glad I can play in six on Friday night just to get an experience,” he said.

While he's pledged his allegiance to Queensland and Australian rugby league, the All-Stars concept has allowed the Newcastle star to represent his heritage and his Maori father Andre.

Ponga said he'd lived in Australia most of his life so this was a great opportunity to be exposed to his culture.

“It means a lot to him so to make him proud is pretty good," he said. “I was very excited I was allowed to represent my culture.”

Ponga is expecting the Indigenous team, who boast speedsters Josh Addo-Carr and James Roberts, to prove a handful on the flanks in the AAMI Park match.

But the Maori have a plan to overcome that.

“They've got plenty of speed out wide but we've got some big boys in the middle so, hopefully, we will go through there,” he said.

Ponga is partnering another raw half in Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes and says they plan to go “freestyle”.

“We are keeping our structures pretty simple but, hopefully, he can just do some freaky stuff and score some tries for us.”