Greg Growden Chief Rugby Corresponden | June 2, 2009

SONNY BILL WILLIAMS yesterday was back in friendlier territory, at a cherished football ground, surrounded by rugby notables, but still confessing to one fear - that Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock might make a fool of him on Saturday night.

Williams returned to the Sydney Football Stadium, where at a media conference he joined several of his new Barbarians colleagues who had flown in several hours earlier from London after defeating England 33-26 at Twickenham. The travelling group included others returning to familiar ground in Sydney, with Wallabies back-rower Rocky Elsom, who is expected to announce this week he will join the Brumbies, and Waratahs captain Phil Waugh.

Williams's quest to find some familiarity in a relatively foreign domain was also helped by his return to the arena he described as his favourite in Australia.

This time around, he will be wrestling with a different rugby code, but where exactly he will play in a bid to show to all that he is adept at the 15-man game, remains a mystery.

Barbarians coach David Young yesterday was coy about the position Williams would play against the Wallabies, but the player concerned made it clear he was eager to confront Mortlock at No.13. Young did at least admit Williams would be seen somewhere in the Barbarians back line.

Young and his assistant coach, Mike Catt, the former England midfielder, admitted they had not seen a lot of Williams during his year with Toulon in the French league because their matches were hardly shown on UK television. But both were well aware of his reputation, and fascinated by his somewhat different preparation of having a professional boxing bout last week.

But Williams, decked out in the Barbarians tracksuit, looked hardly the pugilist yesterday. He was quiet and civil. When he was asked if he was nervous about his first major game since he controversially crossed codes, he replied: "Yeah definitely."

"You see the names like Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau and that gets you a bit nervous," Williams added. "And I want to show in this match that I'm not just a league player trying to play rugby, but that I'm a rugby player.

"I'm especially looking forward to playing against Stirling Mortlock. I've watched him since I've started playing league, and I've really admired the way he plays not just with the ball, but also without the ball. He can hit really well.

"I'm not going to say I will go out there and be a star player, or anything like that," Williams added. "I'm going to go out there and try to do the basics well, and not let Stirling Mortlock run through me."

Despite all Williams has achieved in league, he knows Mortlock could well show him up. Adding to the pressure is that several of his former Bulldogs teammates will be at the game, watching how he adapts, and ready to ridicule him if he falters. Who exactly they are he wouldn't reveal, because as Williams put it, "I don't want to say their names, or they might get into trouble".

"I've just got to try and soak it all up this week, and learn from some of the best rugby players in the world," he added. "Anyone who takes part in something like this and doesn't learn anything from it is a fool."

Even more foolish is if he gives his opponents ammunition by being short of the mark against the Wallabies.

"You're always going to have your critics ? So I'm going to go out there and try and have a strong game and just show people I can play rugby."

Is he expecting boos or cheers when he runs out? "A bit of both."