Jing Reec knows whatever Melbourne City throws at him in Saturday night's A-League Men grand final, he can handle it.
His footballing education from six older brothers has him ready.
"All my older siblings were playing football, so I thought I should just go and play with them," Melbourne Victory striker Reec told AAP.
"They were all bigger than me, so I was getting bullied the whole time. But it was fun.
"At first it wasn't fun. I actually hated playing football, because every time I'd go, I was smaller than everyone, losing every game. I was literally getting thrown around.
"But that also helped me a lot, because then at the end of the day, they're just my brothers, and they show me that football is going to be tough.
"It's not going to be easy. So having that experience at a young age made it easier for me."
Born in Egypt to a family of South Sudanese refugees, Reec moved to Australia at six months old.
He started kicking around in Western Sydney, was scouted by then-Central Coast coach Nick Montgomery, played one game then signed a five-year deal with Danish club AGF Aarhus.
He returned to the Mariners on loan last season, then signed a three-year contract at Victory.
"It's been crazy for me - I've just been moving here and there," Reec said.
"But it's very, very good for me, because I've been through a lot of ups and downs, so I like taking all the positives out."
Reec, 21, is desperate to show what he can do on the big stage - after he was an unused substitute in last year's decider with the Mariners.
But he knows he might have to wait for his chance behind Bruno Fornaroli and Nikos Vergos.
"It is a challenge. But I love challenges," Reec said.
"If anything, it's better for me. Nikos and Fornaroli are the two best strikers in the league. For me, only being 21, I'm learning so much off them.
"I'm just really, really hungry. I'll take anything.
"I really want to come on and just show myself and leave a mark out there."
Reec expects to have around 30 family members and friends at AAMI Park on Saturday.
That includes his mother, who raised all 10 of her children solo after she and Reec's father divorced.
"Big props to my mum. I don't know how she did it - all 10 of us alone," he said.
"My older siblings, they also helped my mum out a lot. I have really good siblings. As soon as they were able to work, they would help.
"A lot of my siblings put a lot of things aside for me, to be able to pay for registration, taking me training.
"Now playing football is just for them. I'm just trying to help them, pay them back and just leave a smile on their face."
9°C