Sonny Bill Williams admits he's nervous for his highly anticipated NRL return in Saturday's Grand Final rematch between Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders.
Williams has been named in the No.17 jersey for the Roosters, and is expected to log limited minutes in his first NRL match since 2014 and his first game-time since March, when he played for Toronto Wolfpack in the English Super League.
The 35-year-old will see out the remainder of the NRL season with the Roosters, before rejoining the Wolfpack for the final year of his contract.
Speaking to Nine Radio, Williams has acknowledged the attention on him, but just wants to do is help his side win.
"I'm really excited, but at the same time nervous," he says. "I think any sportsman or sportswoman that tells you they don't get nervous before big events, they'd be lying to themselves and to you.
"I'm no different. I'm under no illusions coming back here, after not playing for six months and then coming off surgery on my knee.
"The biggest challenge for me was to make the side. I've made it now and, in any capacity, I wanted to help out.
"If that's in the engine room, then that's what I have to do and that's what I'll be doing this weekend."
Despite the nerves, Williams is equally as excited about his return to the field.
"[The Raiders] are a physical side and for myself, every team that I play against, especially on the footy field, there's always that competition up the middle," he says.
"This weekend will be no different, so it's actually pretty exciting.
"I've become accustomed to doing the hard work within the chaos, and sticking to my methods and processes that Insha'allah [god willing] will allow me to add a bit of my flavour positively to the side."
Both the Roosters and Raiders have 11-5 records this season, with the latter winning 24-20 in their earlier match-up this season.
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