It's the venue he's called home since joining the Dragons on a three-year deal in 2017 - a contract many were quick to question given the length and coin attached.

Few would question it now given his form since penning that deal, not to mention the fact he's a two-time Origin series victor with NSW. Little wonder he gives a loud chuckle when asked if it was the right move.

"It's obviously been a great move," Vaughan said.

"Every time I go away whether it's for NSW or something like this for Australia, in the back of my mind I know I have to represent Saints to best of my ability.

"They gave me that chance, they gave me every opportunity to play the best football I possibly could. I just feel like I'm always in debt to the club for that.

"It's only two and a half hours down the road to Canberra where all my mates and family are but I think Wollongong feels like home now.

"I love the place and, as a dream, you want to debut at home and here or Canberra would've been ideal. To have it at Wollongong is pretty special."

It's not his first rep call-up, but pulling on the Kangaroos jumper for the first time was a different feeling altogether.

"It's so crazy, even when I put my jersey on to get the size at the medical last week I had to pinch myself," Vaughan said.

"I've been dreaming about playing for Australia for such a long time. I wasn't expecting it this year to be honest given we didn't have the best year at Saints.

"We bowed out really early, we didn't play finals and all the boys in contention were playing really good footy so I didn't really know what position I was going to be in.

"If I get the opportunity to play it'll be one of the highlights of my life - I'll probably sleep in it that night."

Test match football is always described as a different beast and - even without suspended star Nelson Asofa-Solomona - Vaughan says the Kiwis boast a formidable arsenal up front.

"When you watch a Test it's always very physical," Vaughan said.

"The Kiwis have got a great team, a great forward pack and you can't take anything lightly in football, it humbles you pretty quick.

"Being in the middle I think it's going to be a physical game, fast and I can't wait to see what it's all about."

A maiden Test appearance will sweeten a return to WIN Stadium that would otherwise have come ahead of what promises to be a gruelling preseason with the Dragons after a dismal 2019 campaign.

A heavy injury toll and the ongoing Jack de Belin saga loomed large over a season that saw the joint-venture finish second-last, but Vaughan said his side need to put both in the past.

"You can't really fall back on it too much as an excuse just because it's there," Vaughan said.

"I think that's done now. It was disappointing having the season that we did. With the roster we've got it was hard to cop because we've got a great team here.

"Things just didn't fall our way this year. All the boys just have got to really want to get into preseason and put the hard work in to get us back into that top eight because we know we've got the team to do it."