The Kurri Kurri Bulldogs captain, who played 65 matches in the National Rugby League competition with the Newcastle Knights and New Zealand Warriors, will make his debut for the Newcastle representative squad while vying for a spot in the 2012 decider.

The Rebels are out to defend their crown but they must first move past Central Coast at Cessnock Sportsground in order to do so, and Royal will be central to those

aspirations.

The 32-year-old prop missed last year’s successful campaign with work commitments but he will be keen to make up for lost time on Saturday afternoon.

“This is a really big game for us,” Royal said.

“Last year I was on a rotating roster at work with afternoon shifts so I couldn’t make training all the time and it would have been unfair on the other guys if I just played the games.

“But I’m looking forward to this weekend and playing alongside the best players in Newcastle.”

In particular Royal, who joined the Bulldogs at the start of 2011 after an initial deal to play with Kurri Kurri fell through when signed by NRL club the Warriors, said he was excited at the prospects of the Newcastle forward pack.

“We have a great forward pack there,” he said.

“Guys like Billy Towers and Jacob Sinclair from Maitland and the Cessnock boys like Dan Metcalf.”

Royal will pack down with Cessnock’s Brendan Hlad in the front row with former Manly and Cronulla first grader Terence Seu Seu at hooker.

Pickers playmaker Jade Porter is the halfback.

Kick off is 12.45pm.

The other semi-final, being played between Canberra and Northern Rivers, will precede the main game at the same venue at 11am.

q See the Mercury on Friday for more representative rugby league coverage on the NSW Country Championship semi-final and a closer look at the upcoming round for the Maitland Pickers and Kurri Kurri Bulldogs in the Newcastle first grade competition.