POWERHOUSE prop Nick Dobson spent a decade playing first grade in the ACT premier competition and packed down for the Canberra Vikings in the National Rugby Championship last year.
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But the Merewether tighthead is yet to test himself in the Shute Shield.
It's a box Dobson hopes to tick with the Newcastle Wildfires in the coming weeks.
The Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union board on Monday night gave approval for the men, women and colts (under-20s) representative teams to play in a shortened Sydney season and have asked local clubs to endorse the move.
The Wildfires last played in the Shute Shield in 1999.
"I have always wanted to play in the Shute Shield," said Dobson, who moved to Newcastle this season to join Merewether. "I have had opportunities previously but haven't committed to them due to family reasons. Having to relocate to Sydney was a tough one. I have played NRC but have always wondered how I'd go in Sydney. There are a few other players in the Newcastle squad in the same boat.
"This is a red-hot opportunity for us to get down there and have a crack and see where we stand in the premier club competition in the country."
Dobson and Merewether loosehead Dave Puchert are likely to anchor the Wildfires scrum.
"Sydney [clubs] will obviously be strong in terms of the set piece," Dobson said.
"The front-row sets the tempo for the game. Dave is still pretty raw. He is only 21 but he has the right attitude, trains the house down and has a good physique for a front-rower.
"He has come down from Port Macquarie and is excited for Sydney as well. I think he had a little taste of it at the colts level [at Randwick] and is keen to test himself at the premier level. He might have got a couple of runs off the bench previously. To be a week-to-week starter with the Wildfires, if the opportunity arises, I'm sure he will take it with both hands."
Dodson played two NRC games for the Vikings last year against Melbourne and the Western Force, but was overseas and missed the final.
He was one of seven locals in the Newcastle invitational side which went down to the Force in a game of Global Rapid Rugby at No.2 Sportsground in February.
"You have to be switched on and know your job pretty well at that level," the 32-year-old said. "It is a big jump from club rugby to semi-professional. I enjoyed it. It is a faster paced game, it is a lot more structured, everyone plays their part and does their bit."
Dobson, who has moved to Newcastle with wife Lara and daughters Rylan, 5, Ella, 2, and three-month-old son Arlo, said it would be a shame if COVID-19 wiped out a full season.
"Guys have trained the house down and got ready for the season and for the handbrake to be pulled up on them has been disheartening," he said. "With the premiership not going ahead, there has been talk of a little competition in the mix but I don't think guys are interested in that at this stage. There eyes are on playing in Sydney."
Clubs have until Tuesday to respond to the board's request. Costs for the season in Sydney, expected to $60,000, have been covered by sponsorship.
Individuals can also support the representative program through a tax appeal registered with the Australian Sports Foundation.
Donations can be made at - https://asf.org.au/projects/hunter-rugby-foundation/ and are tax deductable.
"Donation will 100 per cent be going to grassroots rugby to support the development of our men, colts and women representative programs," NHRU president Bill Clifton said. "If people make a donation now, they do their tax return at the end of June and will get their money back pretty quickly."
