With Luke McPharlin ruled out through injury, Pavlich will fly the Fremantle flag and has enjoyed spending the week as a member of the Dream Team.
And, now, he can't wait to take on the Big V.
Pavlich has not represented South Australia since his junior football days and would love to run out for his home state, but this is very good for now.
"It's great to see representative footy back and everyone is excited to be involved," he said. "I haven’t got to represent my state since I've been in the AFL and it's fantastic to see it back in some way.
"Even though it's not quite playing for South Australia like I always dreamed of, it's always huge to take on the Big V and we will be doing all we can to make sure we win."
Much of the focus has been on the Dream Team's potent forward line with Pavlich joined by Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, Cameron Mooney and Matthew Richardson.
Pavlich is honoured to be part of the formidable quartet and will savour the prospect of not being the Victorian defence's only target.
"People have been comparing it to some of the other great forward lines of the past, which is a real honour," he said. "It will be a privilege to play alongside these guys.
"I might not get the No. 1 defender to start with for a change, but I'm sure at some point any number of great backmen will come to me so I'm not expecting an easy night."
Pavlich has loved all aspects of his time in Melbourne – training and social – with a game of ten pin bowling on Thursday a chance to get to know his new teammates.
The Hall of Fame ceremony at Crown that evening also heightened a special time.
"Training has been fantastic and a real highlight of my time over here in Melbourne," he said. "I have certainly been enjoying the delivery we've been getting from the midfielders and it's great to get the chance to run around with so many other great players.
"I've found that they are all great fellas off the field. It's been great to see just how hard they all train and play.
"The whole group has impressed me and it's been good to see so much talent walking around the streets of Melbourne and in the hotel."
The build-up to the game has reached fever pitch with a crowd of more than 60,000 expected at the MCG.
"There has been a lot of positive press over here for the game and the Melbourne public is really getting behind it," he said.
"Everyone knows the Melbournians love their sport and I'm sure they'll come out in droves to support the game. It will be a good experience to play in front of a big, hostile Victorian crowd, but hopefully we overcome that and knock them off."
But come Sunday, Pavlich's full focus will revert to Fremantle and working to lift the club from its 1-6 start.
"It has been a little bit of a distraction to be away from Perth and over here, but the club is never far from my mind," he said. "We are all desperate to turn things around and I want to get back and lead that turnaround.
"We just have to get back to training well next week, fix up what we need to and get ready to take on the Bulldogs next Sunday. Things can quickly start to be turned around if we win that one."
The club has come under enormous scrutiny this week though Pavlich knows the only way to quieten the critics is to win games.
"I have been disappointed with some of the coverage we have received this week, but it's not unexpected," he said.
"When you aren’t playing well, you expect to be criticised and the only way we can stop that is by playing better and to start winning, which is what we aim to do."
