St George Illawarra prop George Burgess is keen to face his twin brother Tom and former team South Sydney in Saturday's NRL Charity Shield after a pain-free comeback from major hip surgery.
Having not played since his last appearance for Super League club Wigan in late 2020, Burgess returned solidly in Sunday's 26-22 trial win over Parramatta at CommBank Stadium.
The Englishman is the first professional rugby league player to make it back from a hip resurfacing operation, which he underwent in April 2021.
Coming off the bench in the first half, Burgess expects to improve upon his performance and play about 40 minutes in his final pre-season hit-out at Mudgee's Glen Willow Oval.
"I wasn't too nervous just because of the work I've put in," Burgess said.
"I was pretty confident and it felt good to get out there with the boys and a new team ... I had full contact off the kick-off and I didn't feel any pain in my hip.
"I felt strong and fit and it pulled up sweet, so I'm really happy with it."
Contracted to the Dragons until the end of 2023, Burgess slogged away for months on his own last year in readiness for his reintroduction to the NRL.
"You always have little doubts in your mind but you've just got to say no to those doubts and keep moving forward," he said.
"There were definitely bumps in the road but I just kept going."
While many of his old teammates have left the Rabbitohs, where he played 149 matches from 2012-19 and won the 2014 premiership, Burgess is looking forward to seeing some "familiar faces" in Mudgee.
And he'll enjoy locking horns with brother Tom.
"I won't be avoiding him, I'll be looking for him," he said.
"I'm still good friends with Liam Knight and obviously Tom, a lot of the boys.
"They've been super supportive and the club as well, my old physio Eddie Farah."
Burgess praised the influence of Red V mentor Anthony Griffin.
"He's been awesome, just a straight-talking coach and you know where you stand with him," he said.
"He keeps pushing me throughout the journey of getting my hip right."
