IF Jayden Ehsman had his own way he would have played a trial game or two before his comeback from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
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But things don't always turn out that way and his first competitive game back will be in the North Coast Bulldogs' rep clash with Greater Northern Tigers.
Saturday looms as a game with a few subplots for the Port Macquarie Sharks centre.
Not only will he line up on the right side for the first time since last April, Ehsman will also take on his home region after growing up in Glen Innes.
"I'm playing against a couple of my mates and I think I'm up against one of the boys I played 16s Country with so it will be good to have a hit out against the old region," Ehsman said.
"The nerves are up there because obviously coming back from a serious injury like that you're always nervous about the first contact."
Ehsman lasted just 10 minutes of the Sharks Group 3 season opener against Port City in 2018 and before he knew it, his season was over.
"It was the biggest injury setback I've had and I've been playing since I was four years old so since I could walk pretty much," he said.
"If I get through unscathed (on Saturday) it's a stepping stone from that recovery."
The centre admitted he had been selected in the Bulldogs team based on what he was capable of and it wasn't ideal.
"I don't like being judged on potential, but that's what they've come up with," he said.
"There wasn't a choice because there were no trials to play in before, but I'm grateful to get the opportunity especially coming back from a knee injury.
"It was a surprise I got the call up."
Kick-off is at 2pm at Geoff King Motors Oval at Coffs Harbour.
North Coast Bulldogs team: 1. Owen Blair (Port City) 2. Jake Lauder (Old Bar) 3. Damien Carriage (Macksville) 4. Jayden Ehsman (Port Macquarie) 5. William Baker (Macksville) 6. Conor Taylor (Old Bar) 7. Tristan Scott (Wauchope) 8. Mitchell Smith (Port Macquarie) 9. Mitch Wilbow (Port Macquarie) 10. Cain Bunt (Orara Valley) 11. Daniel Lavender (Grafton) 12. Alex Bunt (Orara Valley) 13. Shannon Ellem (c) (Old Bar) 14. Asalemo Usumanu (Sawtell) 15. Jared Wooster (Old Bar) 16. Riley Glover (Forster/Tuncurry) 17. Cody Berry (Orara Valley)
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