LONDON: Billy Vunipola is relishing a heavyweight collision with a rugby league convert bidding to gatecrash Stuart Lancaster's World Cup line-up when Saracens face Bath in the English Premiership final at Twickenham on Saturday.
Bull-dozing Saracens No 8 Vunipola hopes to use the showpiece match as the perfect end-of-season sign-off to display his formidable strength and power in the back row.
But one man he expects could cause him and his team-mates plenty of trouble is former Bradford Bulls and South Sydney Rabbitohs hero Sam Burgess, now with Bath.
Burgess, who weighs in at 18st (143kg) but is still two stone lighter than "Big Billy", has been called up for England coach Lancaster's training camp with the chance to make the tournament hosts' final 31-man World Cup squad announced at the end of August.
While Vunipola said Burgess was still learning the union ropes, he expected a fierce battle on the field.
Vunipola, 22, who was born in Brisbane to Tongan parents, said of some-time centre Burgess: "He's a tremendous rugby player. I think the back row is probably his best position because of how strong he is and how he plays the game.
"The shape and build of the guy is more suited to that position.
"He has a similar frame to Manu Tuilagi but is not as quick.
"That's probably one of his downfalls but he adds a different dimension to the back row with the lines he cuts.
"No offence to him, but he possibly wants to be one of the backs because it's a little fancier but I see him in the forwards," Vunipola added.
Saracens, who finished fourth in the Premiership table with Bath runners-up, hope to exorcise any mental demons still left over from last year's double final misery when they lost the European and domestic titles to Toulon and Northampton on successive weekends.
London club Saracens, the 2011 English champions who defeated Northampton in their semi-final this season, have a poor recent play-off record.
And Vunipola, capped 17 times by England, was well aware what was at stake for both him as a player and Saracens as a club on Saturday.
"It's a big test for me. It's a big stage and if you want to be considered one of the best players in your position you have to shine on these occasions. This is where you have to step forward and show people your true ability."
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