BRISBANE: Wallabies trump card Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii admits he was guilty of over-arousal when his State of Origin debut ended in disaster last year.

Suaalii became only the sixth man to be sent off in Origin history when he caught Reece Walsh high in a moment that will live on in state vs state infamy.

The now 21-year-old quickly returned to thriving on the big stage, incredibly winning man-of-the-match in his professional rugby debut for Australia against England at a sold-out Twickenham in November.

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But the stakes are about to get higher again with Suaalii set to wear the gold No.13 jersey against the British and Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

The powerful Lions will undoubtedly test Suaalii’s tackle technique and temperament after he was lucky to get away with some marginal hits in Super Rugby Pacific this year.

“The biggest thing I learned was my off-field (preparation) – the way I was leading into that week,” Suaalii told a gaggle of 30 reporters at the team’s CBD hotel.

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“It taught me a lot about myself leading into these big games.

“It’s just about being neutral, not being too high or too low, or not playing the game before playing it. I think that was my biggest lesson from that game. Obviously, these games are going to be big, but we’re just focused on today’s training session leading into the game on Saturday.”

But one of Suaalli’s greatest strengths is his aggression and physicality and he was far from neutral when he went toe-to-toe with Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu in November.

The code-hopper smashed the Melbourne export at Murrayfield but hurt himself in the process and Tuipulotu gave him a spray as the stars had to be separated before Suaalii left the field.

“See you next time,” Suaalii told Tuipulotu.

That next time may well be on Saturday with Garry Ringrose’s injury shortening the odds on an all-Scotland Tuipulotu and Huw Jones midfield pairing in the first of three Tests.

“What happens on the field stays on the field,” Suaalii said.

“I’m ready to go, ready to play. Not too much to say about that. It’s all about us. I always focus on myself first before I put my energy into someone else. Obviously, the fans and you (journalists) want to see a rivalry and all that, but at the end of the day, it’s a team sport. I just want to do the best for the team.”

Tuipulotu has since been told to stop fanning the flames himself.

“I don’t want to put any targets on my back,” he told the Kick Ons and Kick Offs podcast.

“I know Eoin Toolan, who is the analyst at the Wallabies, and he used to be our analyst at Melbourne. He’s told me to stop talking on these podcasts about Joey, cause he says he’s raring to go. I don’t want to put any targets on my back from big Joey.”

Suaalii on Monday confirmed he was aware of the chatter.

“There’s been a lot of recounting of that day,” he said.

“I feel like there’s been a lot of talk around that moment. At the end of the day, like I said, it’s a game of footy. Whatever’s still on the field stays on the field.”

Suaalii isn’t just the centre of attention with the media in Brisbane.

He also features highly on the Lions scouting report after terrorising England captain Maro Itoje with his aerial ability during last year’s shock win.

Lions skipper Itoje had a steely look in his eyes when reminded of that afternoon in London.

“They have a good kicking game and good threats in the air but so do we,” Itoje said.

“It is going to be one of the areas of battle throughout the game.”