Perhaps only a dentist appointment could strike fear in gridiron convert Jaxson Stone.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Because the 14-year-old has anything but ahead of the state's pinnacle game of the year.
"It's not too serious," he says of visiting the dentist five days out, "well, hopefully not".
The Tiger Bowl season final for Launceston Gorillas against Hobart Knights certainly is.
When standing upright, then staring back at 188cms and muscling up to 145 kilograms, Stone is primed on the line for the occasion.
But the Queechy High School student has been all summer since first stepping up to American football last year in only grade 8.
Not the juniors, but with the Gorillas men.
"It's been awesome," Stone says.
"All the blokes I have played with are great and they get around me as a young fella."
The Royal Park club had been forced to gain special dispensation over the offseason from Gridiron Tasmania for Stone to play.
No player that young has ever been allowed to play in the state senior competition, whose crunches can be brutal for the faint-hearted.
But Stone isn't like most of his age.
"When I came in, I only thought I'd play juniors," he says. "Even when I got the call up to seniors, I didn't think I'd get a game.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
"I thought I'd be on the bench. To start every game and be playing heaps is just awesome."
The politely-spoken teenager had given up on Australian Rules years ago because he did not like hurting other kids with his sheer size.
The gentle humility of the player that many of his more seasoned teammates believe has the potential to obtain a US college football scholarship is akin to the film based on a true story of the main character in The Blind Side.
It just so happens to be his favourite film - and "my big inspiration" - before strapping on the pads and pulling down a helmet.
Gorillas head coach Brett Wheldon did his best all season to shield Stone from rivals.
There was a concern other clubs may want to push unprepared kids his age. That wasn't an issue, according the wise face of the club.
"He's been just amazing," Wheldon says.
"He has come on in such leaps and bounds - he's still only 14 and a half."
On game day, the defensive lineman is just another face. But also on last game day, he was a state regional discus champion.
Stone played his role in the winning final last week before taking out gold soon after.
"He's an absolute machine," Wheldon says.
"He's just going to be a Tasmanian athlete we have to watch."
Subscriptions are available here
Sign up to our Sport email here