Scotland prop Rory Skeldon is set to reach a major personal milestone when the Scots take on New Zealand, with the tighthead earning plenty of praise ahead of the highly anticipated fixture.
Skeldon has been a consistent and reliable presence in the Scotland front row, and the match against the All Blacks will mark a significant moment in his international career. It is the kind of occasion that players dream about, and those inside the Scotland camp have made no secret of how highly they rate him heading into the game.
Facing New Zealand is never easy. The All Blacks remain one of the most formidable sides in world rugby, and the physical battle up front is usually where matches like this are won or lost. For a prop like Skeldon, that is where the real work gets done, and Scotland will be counting on him to hold his own in what promises to be a brutal contest in the trenches.
Scotland have been building genuine momentum in recent years, no longer content to simply show up against the big nations and hope for the best. There is a belief in this squad that they can compete with anyone on their day, and a result against the All Blacks would send a massive statement to the rest of the rugby world.
Skeldon reaching his milestone in such a high profile fixture makes it all the more special. These are the games that define careers, and the front row forward will be looking to mark the occasion with a strong personal performance as well as helping Scotland get a result.
The squad have been preparing hard, and the mood coming out of the camp has been positive. Skeldon himself has been highlighted as one of the players in form, with coaches clearly confident he is ready for the challenge that New Zealand will bring.
Scottish rugby fans will be watching closely, hoping this can be another chapter in what has been a genuinely exciting period for the national team. And for Skeldon personally, pulling on the dark blue jersey for this particular milestone will be a moment he will not forget in a hurry.