For many years Holt had been away to camps with various representative football squads and narrowly missed selection but this weekend, for the first time, the 23-year-old will wear the Northern NSW jersey.

“It has definitely been a goal of mine,” Holt said.

The Weston Bears first grader will start as left fullback for Northern NSW when his team lines up against a Football Federation Victoria XI in a special anniversary match at Wanderers Oval on Saturday.

“It is always good to be recognised as playing well,” Holt said.

“You always hope you’re good enough and when people recognise that they see you as being able to play at that level.”

Holt will be one of three Bears on the park during the Northern NSW 125 Year Challenge with Rhys Tippett partnering former State League golden boot and special guest Peter Haynes up front while Luke Walker will be a central defender.

The Bears will have the best representation of any State League club on Saturday along with Edgeworth (Ryan Clarke, Paul Wheeler, Ben Smith) and premiers Hamilton (Ben Hughes, John Majurovski, Keegan Wolfenden).

The Bears trio will look to make their mark after being given the opportunity to showcase their skills on such a stage on such an occasion.

Holt said the opportunity to play with the likes of Haynes (2008 State League golden boot, 2008 premiership with Broadmeadow Magic and six-month Newcastle Jets contract), Majurovski (2009 golden boot winner and 2009 premiership with Olympic) and Wolfenden (Australian under-17 team representative and 2009 premiership with Olympic) was a rewarding experience.

“They are all sought after players and everyone knows how quality they are so to play in the same team as those guys is really good,” Holt said.

Holt, who has been at the Bears for six years, said he had also enjoyed the chance to train and play with a group of new players.

The last time the former Maitland and Newcastle Breakers junior had done so was in 2006 as part of the Australian University Games on the Gold Coast

But this weekend, a month after playing his last match for the Bears - who finished the State League season in seventh place, Holt will have his mind on the job and whoever is playing down the right hand edge for their Victorian opponents.

The Northern NSW team mentor is Broadmeadow coach Peter McGuiness.