Penrith’s Josh Mansour welcomes his round one showdown against Parramatta’s Blake Ferguson

Josh Mansour can’t wait to go one-on-one with Blake Ferguson when the explosive wingers meet in a blockbuster Western Sydney derby in the opening round of the season.

Josh Mansour will go face-to-face with Blake Ferguson in round one.

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Penrith’s Josh Mansour can’t wait to go one-on-one with Parramatta recruit Blake Ferguson when the explosive wingers meet in a blockbuster Western Sydney derby in the opening round of the season.

And after getting a glimpse of Ferguson in his new colours during last weekend’s trial between the two sides, Mansour knows he’s in for one hell of a tussle.

“He’s picked up the same form from last year,” Mansour said of Ferguson’s form in last Saturday’s trial. “He’s looking fit and like he is ready for another big year.

“I’m very excited to face him in round one and who better than the Dally M winger from last year.

“He is going to test me but I can’t wait to face it.”

While the match-up will be a test of skill and physicality, Mansour conceded Ferguson had his measure in one facet — getting lippy on the field.

Mansour wants to get his Origin jersey back. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images.

“That’s just him in general, he talks a lot of shit,” Mansour laughed.

“But Fergo is a great fella. He’s a good mate of mine. We were roomies on the Four Nations tour in 2016. I was the responsible one, he was the loose one. But he’s awesome.”

Now that Mansour has a full pre-season under his belt, he has his sights firmly on a recall to Origin with the NSW Blues.

Mansour played all three games for the Blues in 2016 but a terrible run with injuries since has hampered his chances to get back in the side.

He missed half of the 2017 season after suffering an ACL injury during the Kangaroos’ Four Nations tour in late 2016.

Last season he severely fractured his cheek and eye socket when his head collided with the knee of Gold Coast winger Anthony Don in round six.

“[Origin] is on the top of my list, 100 per cent. That and a premiership,” Mansour said.

“To get back into that arena, I’m going to work really hard and I don’t want to rule myself out completely.

“They had a good side last year but that’s not going to stop me from putting my best foot forward and playing some consistent footy.”

Ferguson is the reigning winger of the year. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

Another minor injury forced Mansour to sit out last Saturday’s trial. He needed 10 stitches for a nasty gash after falling at training.

“It was a bit of training mishap, which was annoying, but it happened,” he said.

“I hit the ground so hard, that the way I fell down busted it open.

“But it’s getting better now and I should get the stitches out in five or six days.

“I put my hand up to play but being a trial it wasn’t worth the risk of infection.”

Watching from the sidelines gave Mansour a chance to study his first-round opponents. And while punters might be writing off the Eels, Mansour said that would be a huge mistake.

“They came out firing and swing,” he said. “They have a lot motivation to do well this year.

“They’re come off a season where they were wooden spooners. If that’s not motivation to do better, I don’t know what is.

“They have good chemistry and they were moving the ball from side to side confidently.

“Their back three were awesome in the back field and their forwards had so much punch and were rolling up the field easily. They are looking like a force from one to 13.”