HE is the Pommy that wants to stay in the NRL - and Gareth Widdop is anticipating a “fiery and physical’’ debut in Saturday afternoon’s Charity Shield in Wollongong.

Widdop, St George Illawarra’s major off-season buy, has watched the annual blood-and-thunder pre-season game on TV since arriving in Australia from England eight years ago.

Now the Brit and former Storm star will contest the 31st Charity Shield against Souths, which will kick-off at 5pm.

“No doubt on Saturday it will get physical and fiery. That’s why we play the game. It will be a great test for us,’’ Widdop told The Daily Telegraph.

“This will be a perfect test going into the season and that’s what you want. It will give us a benchmark as to where we are as a team.

“It will be great to be part of it this year - I watched it on TV for the last few years.

“I think it is the closest thing to a regular season game against one of the best teams in the competition, the Rabbitohs.’’

Five months of summer training often spills over between these two famous rugby league clubs.

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And both teams are again expecting fireworks on Saturday.

Souths will announce their side today with insiders tipping Sam Burgess - who yesterday announced he would defect to English rugby union - and Greg Inglis will be named.

A solid crowd of around 15,000 is expected to watch the game.

And one of the star attractions will be Widdop, who arrives after a stint of excellence under Craig Bellamy - and alongside Cam Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater - at Melbourne.

“I have been quite successful at Melbourne, I have been there since I was a junior,’’ Widdop said.

“I have learnt a lot and played with some of the best players in the game. I have definitely gained a lot of experience and played in some big games over the past few years as well.

“With the young team we have here, I think I can bring a lot of composure and experience.

“I have learned a lot off the coaching staff in Melbourne, especially ‘Bellyache’ (Bellamy), he will go down as one of the greatest coaches. We have systems here at the Dragons which I have bought into.

“I have learnt over the pre-season and hopefully I can bring a little of what I learnt in Melbourne and put it into the system here.’’

Asked about playing alongside Melbourne’s Big Three, Widdop said: “They will go down as the greatest players in the game. But I am in a new chapter of my career and life now and I am enjoying my time so far.’’

Souths won last year’s game 28-10 at ANZ Stadium in front of nearly 20,000 fans.