Reagan Campbell-Gillard admits he’s unsure what to expect when he faces his former NRL club Penrith for the first time on Saturday.

The Parramatta recruit hasn’t been shy about his unhappiness over his final year at the Panthers, which resulted in him joining their arch-rivals over the summer.

The relationship with Penrith soured enough for the club to grant Campbell-Gillard a release from a five-year contract extension that was meant to begin this season.

They’re even understood to be paying a chunk of his Eels deal.

The former Kangaroos representative will get an early chance to remind the Panthers what they’re missing when they meet in Bega on Saturday.

“I don’t really know what to expect, but I’m going to focus on myself, get myself right and ready for that trial and play it as another game,” he said.

“Obviously I know virtually everyone in that team, so it’s going to be different.”

After a 20-minute stint in Friday’s trial loss to South Sydney, Campbell-Gillard will be expected to put in a full shift this weekend ahead of the season start.

He admitted he felt nervous pulling another jumper on for the first time in his career.

“It’s like the first day of school. You don’t really know what to expect,” he said.

“(But) I feel really comfortable with the team and club at the moment. Once you put the jersey on, it’s just football again.

“It’ll take a bit of time to remember that it’s a different jersey, but so far, so good.”

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur will roll out close to his best 17, including another key acquisition in second-rower Ryan Matterson.

The only player unavailable is ex- Panthers centre Waqa Blake, who is still working his way back from a shoulder injury suffered during the World Cup Nines.

“He won’t have any games, but he’ll be right for round one,” Arthur said.