Josh Papalii and Jason Taumalolo will clash for the first time in an explosive encounter

THE SBW v Sam Burgess showdown will be a tremor compared to the earthquake that will rock QLD when these two players clash.

THE Sonny Bill Williams vs Sam Burgess showdown will be a tremor compared to the earthquake that will rock Townsville when the two most explosive players in the NRL clash tomorrow.

For the first time in the NRL, the most damaging forwards in the code, Josh Papalii and Jason Taumalolo go head to head when Canberra travel north to play the Cowboys.

Taumalolo has been shifted to the left side this season which is opposite Papalii and a concussion could be inevitable as 225 kilograms of raw backrow power stands toe to toe.

Papalii is playing mind games already, claiming Taumalolo is the most imposing of the two.

Asked if he saw a younger version of himself in the shy 20-year-old, Papalii said Taumalolo was the better athlete.

News_Image_File: Jason Taumalolo in action for the North Queensland Cowboys.

“He’s bigger than me and stronger. It will be a task I’m looking forward to,” Papalii said.

“I played against Jason a couple of times in the Toyota Cup (National Youth Competition) and he’s hard to handle.

“I just hope I can do a job.”

The two Pacific Island monsters, who are as athletic as most centres, had been bookmarked as Queensland’s long-term second row with Maroons coach Mal Meninga regularly meeting both to ensure they were committed.

Only Papalii fulfilled Meninga’s plan with Taumalolo pledging allegiance to New Zealand.

Papalii’s State of Origin place was sealed during a game against North Queensland last year.

The Raiders wrecking ball trampled Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston in an upset victory.

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Canberra purposely ran Papalii at Thurston and it paid dividends as he made 158-metres and scored a stunning solo try.

Ex-Raiders coach and now Cowboys assistant David Furner often used Papalii as a hit man, famously telling him to harass Paul Gallen in an NRL final against Cronulla.

Papalii repeatedly smashed him and Gallen was reduced to a shadow of his normal self.

The run at Thurston tactic is sure to be revisited tomorrow night in a humid Townsville, although Papalii is claiming it is not on their agenda.

“It is not the game plan (to run at Thurston). We will go up as a team and hopefully do well,” he said humble as always.

“It was just my game that weekend (when he trampled Thurston) and hopefully it is the same result this weekend.

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“They have two Australian props. It will be a challenge for our pack to handle them.

“It is important to win the first one. Hopefully we can cause a big upset.”

Taumalolo has been so devastating on the left edge for the Cowboys during their trials that coach Paul Green shifted veteran Gavin Cooper to the right edge to accommodate him.

Taumalolo will be tasked with protecting Thurston, while the five-eighth must unleash his baby-faced giant.

“Johnno’s job now is to get Jason a lot of ball because everyone knows what he can do with the ball,” Cooper said.

“I think everyone will see that and have fun watching it on Saturday night.”