THE idea of playing in front of an Anzac crowd, under lights and on Wagga's premier football ground has young Marrar recruit Josh O'Callaghan jumping out of his skin.
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O'Callaghan, 21, will make just his second appearance in the Bombers jumper tomorrow night when he runs onto Robertson Oval for the Farrer League's annual Anzac Challenge.
"I can't wait," he said.
"I've never played an Anzac game, I've never played under lights or anything special like that so it should be really good."
O'Callaghan is settling in to his new home at Langtry Oval after his off-season switch from RFL club Leeton-Whitton.
He had previously played all his football at the Crows and made 11 first grade appearances for the club last year.
Having spent two years living on campus at Wagga's Charles Sturt University and travelling out to Leeton each week to train and play, O'Callaghan decided it was time for a change.
He talked good mate Matt Irvin into joining the Bombers and the pair are fast finding their feet in the Farrer League.
"It was a good chance to try something new and the opportunity to play at Marrar was too good to pass up."
- Josh O'Callaghan
"It's great, everyone out at Marrar has welcomed us, all the boys are really good and everyone out there is so nice," O'Callaghan said.
"I just got a bit over the travelling last year, and because I'm doing a lot of prac work at uni this year I needed to stay around Wagga more.
"It was a good chance to try something new and the opportunity to play at Marrar was too good to pass up."
Both O'Callaghan and Irvin are in their third year of studying primary teaching at CSU.
But they will find it hard to concentrate on study this week as tomorrow night's Anzac Challenge looms.
The Rock-Yerong Creek and Marrar will battle it out for the perpetual trophy - an old artillery shell preserved at the Rules Club.
O'Callaghan admits he has no idea what to expect from the Magpies.
"I wouldn't have a clue about The Rock to be honest," he said.
"Being new to the Farrer League we don't know any of the clubs so each week is a new challenge."
Both the Magpies and Bombers will announce their teams and emergencies today for the big game.
