Western Suburbs Magpies, Campbelltown’s rugby league heartbeat, is expected to make a long awaited return to elite competition in 2018.

The foundation club, boasting 109 years of history, will return as part of a restructured NRL second tier competition.

media_camera Western Suburbs Magpie centre Veiru Mapesone close to the tryline against Blacktown Workers on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Timothy Clapin.

media_camera Former Wests Tigers John Skandalis donning the Western Suburbs Magpies jersey.

Magpies general manager Leo Epifania has been driving the move to provide a pathway for southwest Sydney.

“The Magpies have been around for a really long time are in a healthy position waiting for this return,” he said.

“This is about providing elite pathways and facilities to the people of southwest Sydney.

“With the growing population, you do have to cash in or the young players will leave. It's a no brainer.”

media_camera Former Western Suburbs Magpies players Adam Donovan, Steve Georgallis and Ken McGuinness, with former captain and coach tommy Raudonikis.

media_camera Western Suburbs junior Brett Hodgson getting the match ball off tommy Raudonikis at Campbelltown Stadium in 2008. Photo: Jonathan Ng/Action Photographics

Mr Epifania said the club had a vision to create a state-of-the-art facility in the Macarthur region, providing a single home for all Magpies teams, complete with a gym, playing fields, seminar and recovery rooms.

Western Suburbs Magpies mascot and Fanatics founder Scott Morris welcomed the move back to the NRL second tier.

“I think returning to the NRL competition is a little way off, but this is a positive step forward,” he said.

“It is an exciting time, pitting us against our traditional rivals Norths, Newtown and Manly once again.”

The club has not featured in the state-based competition since 2012, since suffering from a Wests Tigers joint venture decision to invest in a single reserve grade team.

Mr Morris said the Fanatics had long been pushing for a reintroduction into the second tier competition.

“Ideally, south west Sydney is the future of the Wests Tigers,” he said.

“With the rise in population and more corporate businesses coming to town, hopefully we can return to the good times.”

media_camera Luke Williams burrowing forward for Wests Magpies.

media_camera Wests Magpies SG Ball team taking on Cronulla at Campbelltown Stadium.

The Magpies currently compete in the Sydney-based Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield senior competitions, as well as junior development pathways.

Both senior teams had big wins over Blacktown Workers at the weekend.