Interest in EP as a med student, how competitive is this path?

I've been loving every second of our electrophysiology lectures during our cardiology block, and I've shadowed a lecturer in the OR and will be shadowing in clinic. This is the first time I've genuinely felt excited by the material and did not feel bored at all memorizing the presented treatments, drugs, physiology, etc.

I've been considering making this my goal for my career (previously I'd been probably 60% sure I'd end up doing IM -> HemeOnc). I have a few questions about the pathway to EP:

Given it is a two fellowship pathway, I am scared at the prospect of applying to two competitive fellowships beyond residency and perhaps achieving a road block at one of these junctions, resulting in me becoming an IM hospitalist or general cardiologist rather than EP. How likely is this happening?

How important is IM residency reputation in applying to general cardiology fellowship and how important is cardiology fellowship reputation in applying to EP fellowship? I am currently at a decent US MD school and have some oncology research but no cardiology research and little outside involvement on campus beyond a community clinic.

Thank you, and I'm excited to potentially become part of the cardiology family!