Recalled Canberra Raiders halfback Sam Williams says he's determined to prove his selection is not a step backwards for the club, the 24-year-old confident he's ready to bring out the best in his team's "strike-power".
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Williams also urged dumped teammate Mitch Cornish to maintain a strong attitude, adding "I know how it feels".
Williams returns to the Raiders NRL squad on Saturday for the first time since 2013 and faces a play-making duel against one the game's best halfbacks, Manly's Daly Cherry-Evans.
Williams has drifted in and out of the NRL since making his debut for Canberra as a 19-year-old in 2011, last year defecting to the St George Illawarra Dragons, before a mid-season shift to the Catalans Dragons in the UK Super League.
But Williams, who has played 42 of his 46 NRL games with the Raiders, declared he's back in Canberra to lead the club forward.
"When I went overseas [last year] I wasn't too sure where my future was, if I was going to remain over there or come back," Williams said. "I got the opportunity to come back here and I was certainly grateful for it. Now's a chance when I can get out there and show a bit of the faith [Canberra coach] Ricky [Stuart] put in me.
"I've got faith in my ability and guiding this team around the park. We've got a lot of strike power and it's important I get the team around the field to give them the best opportunity to put their athleticism on show."
"I had a big off-season and did everything I felt I could do to get into the team - I've got an opportunity now."
Williams said he was "excited" by the first-up challenge against Cherry-Evans, who he has used as his inspiration for patience. The pair played against each other in Under 20s, but Cherry-Evans, now an Australian-representative halfback, didn't debut in the NRL until he was 22.
Williams also urged Cornish, 22, not to be deflated by his own setback, dropped after starting the first four games of the season.
"I know how it feels, it's tough, you come in and think you've got your opportunity then you get put back," Williams said. "It's part of the rugby league. He's not the first bloke it's happened to ... we're really lucky he's got a good attitude and I'm sure we'll see more of him in the future.
"It happens to everyone and you're a pretty special player if you go through your whole career without getting dropped. I've been back there, now I've got an opportunity and I'm excited to put my best foot forward.
"I played a little bit against [Cherry-Evans] in the U20s and then he spent one or two seasons in the Queensland Cup, then came out and had an excellent debut [NRL] season.
"It's exciting, you want to put yourself against the best ... I can't wait, he's probably in the top two or three premier halfbacks in the game. They need to have a win, we need to have a win. He'll be out to put a real mark on the game. His combination with [Kieran] Foran is second to none."
Raiders five-eighth recruit Blake Austin this week shouldered some responsibility for Canberra's misfiring attack. But Williams said one of his primary duties this weekend was to take control of Canberra's game-plan, allowing Austin to play his natural game.
"It's a new combination, but it's important we gel as fast as possible," Williams said. We don't want to be sitting here in five or six weeks time and having the same conversation.
"It's probably the first time I've played with a genuine five-eighth like Blake, he likes being wide and running the ball and a bit of free-range football. Hopefully my game can complement his and give him as many opportunities as possible, as well as Jack Wighton and Jarrod Croker. We've got a lot of strike power, it's just important to give them the best opportunity to show what they've got."
