Simply stepping up to replace injured Brisbane NRL hooker Andrew McCullough had rattled Ben Hunt.

But it pales in comparison to the assignment facing the fill-in Broncos’ rake in Friday night’s preliminary final against Melbourne at AAMI Park – stopping Cameron Smith.

Hunt is a halfback who has started three games this year at hooker.

Melbourne No.9 Smith is a future Immortal who has racked up a record 356 NRL games and counting.

No wonder Hunt admits there is “a lot to worry about” before lining up against one of the greatest players he reckons he has seen.

“He’s in the top two or three,” said Hunt, in his ninth NRL season.

“I was lucky enough to play alongside Darren Lockyer.

“Him, Johnathan Thurston and Smith are far and away the top-three best I have ever seen.

“And apart from him, Melbourne have been the best team all year.

“It will be a pretty big challenge for us to get the win – we have a lot to worry about.”

Yet Hunt is backing himself despite admitting replacing McCullough (knee) as Broncos No.9 was daunting enough.

“At the start, I was a bit rattled by it – looking at the stats and all the tackles that he (McCullough) makes and what he does for the team,” he said.

“But he plays a different style. I didn’t want to blow myself out doing a lot of tackles.

“I just wanted to control that play the ball a bit and I think I have done that.”

Hunt helped fill in for McCullough at hooker from round 22, coming off the bench for four games before starting the past three.

He played his best game yet at No.9 in last week’s 13-6 semi-final win over Penrith.

If Hunt matches Smith on Friday night, the Queensland and Test skipper will have only himself to blame.

Hunt admitted he had learned most from Smith in Queensland State of Origin camp before making his Maroons debut in game three in July and taking his game to another level for Brisbane.

“His calmness and the way he goes about everything at training and during the game, it is something I haven’t seen,” said Hunt, who will become St George Illawarra’s No.7 next year.

“No matter what happens, he is always relaxed and knows he is in control and has the tools around him to get the job done.

“That is one thing I have learned – if we are in front, we are never safe.”

While in awe of Smith in Origin camp, Hunt said there would be no hero worshipping on Friday night.

“When you are in that Origin camp, they are all great blokes and want what is best for Queensland but, step away from that, and they are definitely the enemy,” he said.