On Sunday, former Test rugby player Mike Pyke will cap a remarkable transformation when he makes his AFL debut for Sydney against Richmond at the SCG.

But the Canadian native, who is an unassuming character despite his 200cm, 104kg frame, really doesn't know what all the fuss is about.

Pyke has only been learning the game for a little over six months and wasn't expected to make his debut until well into the 2009 campaign.

But he has shown enough improvement to force his way into the team just six rounds into the season.

It's a rise that has astonished many given the inherent differences between the codes, but all the attention has come as a total surprise to the 25-year-old.

"It's been a really big surprise," he said ahead of training on Friday.

"I wasn't expecting it to be such a big deal.

"I knew lots of the Gaelic guys had come over and done quite a good job making the transition.

"I didn't realise people would be as interested as they have been."

While Pyke is talking down his remarkable progress in the uniquely Australian sport, plenty of others are still scratching their heads, including coach Paul Roos.

"It's extraordinary really," he said.

"Not long ago he probably didn't know the game existed.

"He's at the stage now where he's a competent ruckman and we expect a competent performance, but he's certainly got a long way to go to be a bona fide AFL player week in and week out.

"It's just a really positive step forward. For him to play in round six is an amazing performance."

Roos was pleasantly surprised when Pyke first landed in Australia that he already possessed some marking and kicking skills, although handballing was completely foreign to him.

The Canadian labelled handballing a "bizarre skill", but Roos said he had improved markedly in that area of the game and proven well worth the gamble to bring him to Sydney.

"We thought we'd take a punt, get him over here and thought what have we got to lose but the cost of an airfare," Roos said.

"Once we saw him, we saw how determined he was."

While Roos is hardly expecting a sudden influx of union players to switch to AFL, he is sure it will pique the interest of rival clubs, particularly with the Gold Coast and a western Sydney team to enter the competition in the near future.

"I don't think it's going to spark mass interest of people coming," Roos said.

"But I think it will spark some interest from a lot of clubs in Australia to look offshore.

"Particularly with two new teams coming in, there's a lot of incentive to do different things at the moment.

"But we're not getting carried away. If he competes really well and contributes to the team, that's all we're asking him to do."

Asked if there would be much reaction back home in Canada, Pyke replied: "I'm pretty sure not many people know about it.

"My family and friends do, but that's about all."

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