Manly great Cliff Lyons will play beside Seward and company in the team for the three games against the northern enemy - two today and one tomorrow.

He and Seward go back quite a way. They played grade footy together at Cronulla in 1980.

“That’s my only rugby league claim to fame,” Seward said of playing under 23s with Lyons.

He looked forward to taking to the field again in the origin battle on the Sunshine Coast.

“It should be good fun,” Seward said.

Teams will be in action across 13 age divisions.

“Everyone cheers each other on,” Seward said.

“There’s also the usual banter between teammates.”

Seward has overcome a hamstring injury to take his place on the paddock. 

He’s got a pretty good idea about treating soft-tissue injuries though. Seward is a physiotherapist.

“I had my staff work on it,” he said.

Road runs, cross training, field sessions and core work have played an integral part in Seward’s preparation.

Laura Coleman (women’s 20s), Wayne Gleeson (men’s 40s), and Joe Gaynor (men’s 18s) are other Port players who will be in action this weekend.

Peter Vincent is coaching the men’s 40s team and Mick McCall is in charge of the men’s 45s.

Vincent said he was confident of a good showing from his team. 

The men have the right combination of utility men, quick players and workers to do well.

Vincent said Gleeson had the X factor to cause the opposition some real trouble.

“The Queenslanders will try to shut him down quickly, but that creates overlaps and second-phase play,” he said.