It may not exactly be the bright lights of Tokyo, but Wests Tigers playmaker Benji Marshall will be the star attraction in the club's trial game at Shellharbour on Friday night.
Just days after the NRL moved to block Marshall from signing a lucrative contract to play a guest stint with Japanese rugby union at the end of the season, the Kiwi international was named as Tigers halfback for the clash with the Shellharbour Dragons.
Full coverage of The St George Illawarra DragonsEnsuring Ron Costello Oval will be packed out on Friday night, Marshall is part of a full-strength Tigers line-up as they prepare for the NRL season opener against Canberra on Monday week.
Marshall would not be drawn on the brewing battle to play in Japan, but declared he would be holding nothing back against St George Illawarra's NSW Cup feeder team.
"It's good to have all our players fit on the park at once," Marshall said from Sydney yesterday.
"It's one week out from the start of the comp and we're going down there to put in a good performance.
"Our main focus will be trying not to force things and staying controlled and patient."
Since making the switch from five-eighth to halfback in the preseason, Marshall has impressed in the Tigers' two trial games.
However, it is next year's off-season which has created all the scandal after Marshall was linked to a rich deal to switch codes and play in Japan.
Marshall, through his Australian-based manager Martin Tauber, expressed interest in the move, before NRL boss David Gallop intervened and put a stop to the controversial deal.
The New Zealand World Cup hero said the saga had not distracted him from leading the Tigers' NRL assault, starting on Friday.
Marshall said he had instead been focusing on his change to halfback this year.
"It's been good mate," he said.
"I like that I'm in there getting more ball and having more of a say in directing the team."
"I think it's been our best trial form in years - usually in trials we can be bit down and be trying different things. But I think our performances have gone better and I think we've definitely got the team to make a big start to the season."
The Tigers are also expected to play Country Origin second-rower Chris Heighington, as well as front-rower Bryce Gibbs and Illawarra junior Beau Ryan on Friday night.
However, Shellharbour's line-up will also feature NRL talent.
Former Queensland State of Origin forward Neville Costigan has been thrust into the Shellharbour team.
St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett wants Costigan to gain the extra fitness after he had knee surgery in the off-season.
The Dragons will also use NRL squad members Trent Merrin, Nick Emmett, Daniel Fepuleai and Mickey Paea.
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