Jamal Idris wants for his time at second row to be over so he can make a permanent home for himself in the NRL at centre.

The Canterbury star says he will play wherever needed, but admits he's itching to move back to his original position out wide.

Canterbury coach Kevin Moore shifted the 20-year-old monster to the backrow last year, to help the club cope with injury problems and add size in the forwards.

He's been named in the No.11 jersey for Friday's trial against St George Illawarra, but when Frank Pritchard, Andrew Ryan and Greg Eastwood return to the side, the club's personality player is excited about returning to the backline.

Idris' size and aggressiveness has seen him adapt well to the forwards, but he said Moore hasn't given any indication he'll be used there regularly this year.

"None at the moment, but whatever's going to help the team. It's a team sport, it's not a personal sport," Idris said.

"I'm looking at centres at the moment. I think we've got enough back-rows in front of me and they're probably the best back-rows you can have in the NRL.

"I see it as a bonus for me to get to go back out to the centres. I've been training there all pre-season and I'm looking forward to it.

"I put my hand up and said fine, `I'll give it (forwards) a crack,' but I think at the moment it's best for me to go back to the centres."

Idris is off-contract at the end of this season and hopes to stay at Belmore.

Despite letting slip that he was better at rugby union than league as a kid, Idris said he was 100 per cent committed to the NRL.

"All I know is rugby league," he said.

"When I was younger I played a bit of union for NSW ... I was probably actually better at union than I was at league, but I love the NRL, that's my sport - I'm a rugby league boy."

The Bulldogs and Dragons have named strong sides for their trial match in Wollongong on Friday.

Jamie Soward returns at five-eighth for the Dragons in a replica of their premiership backline, while hardman Beau Scott also makes his return.

Ben Roberts will start in the hotly contested No.6 jersey for the `Dogs, with his rival Kris Keating to play at hooker in place of All Star Michael Ennis.

New recruit Jonathan Wright will get a chance to prove himself in the centres, while boom buys Trent Hodkinson and Aiden Tolman will also make their first outings in blue and white.

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