The vast majority of Scotland rugby fans wouldn’t know him from Adam but after this weekend, he is hoping to become a big stage star.
Adam Ashe will complete his rapid rise to the global scene when he makes his Test debut in a dark blue jersey against the might of the Springboks.
And his first international appearance will have come before he has even made a start for Glasgow Warriors.
Less than a week ago, former Hillfoots and Stirling County kid Ashe was training in New Zealand as part of a scholarship trip.
But the 20-year-old had to pack his bags and fly to Port Elizabeth after receiving the shock call-up from new Scots boss Vern Cotter, who was struggling to cope with injury problems and the unavailability of frontline stars due to club curbs.
As he stepped up preparations for the showdown with the second most powerful side on the planet, Ashe beamed: “It is hard to take in what has happened over the past few days.
“One moment I was involved in an all-day training stint in New Zealand, the next I was on the first plane to South Africa. It was certainly a change of scene and it was great to link up with so many familiar faces.
“It took a couple of days to get into the sleeping pattern, but I am OK now and really looking forward to the challenge. It will be a hugely physical match the South Africans are renowned for that, but we will get stuck in.”
Cotter insisted Ashe will be ready for the step up.
The coach said: “He is a talented player and the reports of his form in New Zealand have been very positive.
“He’s trained well with us and looked sharp. He is a specialist No8 and this is a golden opportunity for him.”
Ashe’s club-mate and fellow breakaway forward Tyrone Holmes is also set to make his debut as an impact sub as the Scots aim to complete a clean sweep in the wake of wins against USA, Canada and Argentina.
Cotter has made several changes from the line-up that sneaked their last-gasp triumph over the Pumas in Cordoba
Henry Pyrgos starts instead of Grayson Hart at scrum-half, Tim Swinson is preferred to his Warriors chum Jonny Gray, at lock and Chris Fusaro promoted from the bench in place of Blair Cowan.
Cotter stressed that both Gray and Hart had done well in Cordoba, but for this particular game he reckons Swinson and Pyrgos were right for the task.
He added: “I’ve always regarded playing South Africa on their own patch as the benchmark. It’s a massive challenge and it gives our boys an opportunity to lift their level.”
Scotland: S Hogg; S Maitland (both Glasgow), N De Luca (Biarritz), P Horne, T Seymour; D Weir, H Pyrgos (all Glasgow); A Dicksinson, R Ford (both Edinburgh), G Cross (London Irish), T Swinson (Glasgow), G Gilchrist (Edinburgh, capt), R Harley, C Fusaro, A Ashe (all Glasgow). Subs: K Bryce (Glasgow), M Low (Exeter), E Murray, J Gray, T Holmes (all Glasgow), G Hart, D Fife (both Edinburgh), P Murchie (Glasgow).