McGregor has made a rare preemptive call in saying Lomax will get first shot at fullback this season despite Matt Dufty and Tristan Sailor both waiting in the wings.

It will see the rising star anchor a back five that plenty have raised doubts about heading into the 2020 season, but McInnes is confident Lomax is up to the task.

"He's a very, very competitive kid, he's got a lot of talent and the thing I love about him is he wants to get into everything," McInnes said.

"He wants to tackle down on the [try] line, he wants to catch every ball, he wants to run, he just wants to be in the game. I think as a fullback that's half the battle.

"You look at the best fullbacks, Billy Slater, James Tedesco, they just seem like they've always got the ball in their hands. That's him... he's young and energetic and that's what you want in a fullback."