Williams will take the reins as Kurri Kurri Bulldogs coach for the first time on Saturday, the club he won a historic treble of premierships with as a player between 1993 and 1995.

And it doesn’t get any tougher for Williams, whose Bulldogs welcome the reigning premiers Western Suburbs to Kurri Kurri Sportsground for a grand final replay to start the season.

It has been a summer of transition in the Coalfields, with Kurri losing experienced ­forwards Jesse Royal and Reegan Tanner to retirement, as well as halves George Ndaira and Ben Jeffries.

Mark Khierallah has returned to Toulouse in France, while Nathan Ross and Hayden Smith have joined the Newcastle Knights NSW Cup and under 20s teams respectively.

Williams said he looked forward to the ­challenge ahead of his team.

“I just want a good performance,” he said.

“If we are whole-hearted and turn up fully committed to play for each other then the result should take care of itself.”

Kurri lost the 2013 decider 21-8 and Williams knows the Bulldogs will be in for a tough test on Saturday.

“We are going to have to play well to beat Wests,” he said. “We might be a little bit under done but we’ve just got to gel and that takes time.

“It might take us six or seven weeks, the thing is we don’t have six or seven weeks, we’ve got the premiers first up.”

Kurri has named East Maitland junior Blake Birch at halfback while new signings Brendon Worth and Hayden Jeans will pair up in the front row.

Mick Campton has moved to the back row alongside captain Daniel Abraham.

Williams said Birch received the nod at seven after impressing in the summer.

“He came out to Kurri about five years ago and has played first grade here,” he said.

“He hurt his shoulder last year but he’s had a really good off season and he gets the first opportunity.”

The game will be broadcast live on the Mercury website from 3pm Saturday courtesy of BLive Streaming.