This month's rugby league World Club Challenge is shaping up as something of a family affair for Wigan coach Adrian Lam with his son Lachlan in line to make his Sydney Roosters debut.
Lam, who coached at underage level for the Roosters before taking the Wigan job, will lead the Super League champions out against Trent Robinson's NRL premiers on February 17.
Robinson, who is taking his players to France on Saturday for a week before flying into the UK, has named 20-year-old halfback Lam in his squad for the trip to Europe.
His father, who's tenure in the Wigan hot seat got off to a losing start against St Helens last Thursday, said he'll be delighted to see his son in the opposition lineup, but insists he won't be ordering his players to go easy on him.
"I'll be telling him when I speak to him to pack his shoulder pads!" Lam Snr told AAP.
"But seriously, Lachlan has been involved in the first team squad and doing well and hopefully he'll get the opportunity to play.
"Both of my boys are contracted to the Roosters and have spent the last few years with them so it will be a huge achievement for them to play first grade."
Wigan had hoped to sign Lachlan this year, but such is the regard he's held in by the Roosters, the NRL club told him they were reluctant to let him leave.
"Wigan offered him a separate contract to mine," Lam said
"He had a look at it, considered it, but he has done his time at the Roosters, played all the grades and is a local Clovelly junior.
"If we took him away from that and if it ended up with him missing an opportunity with the Roosters then it would be a bit silly having made it all the way through their system."
The match has huge significance in Wigan, who have won the World Club Challenge a record four times, but for Lam it will be a hugely emotional occasion to coach against a club he loves.
"The Roosters is the only club I've played for in the NRL and Wigan is the only club I've played for in the Super League," Lam said.
"I am just grateful to have the opportunity to coach in such a massive game featuring two clubs that are so close to my heart.
"It's massive, thing for the club. The Wigan shirt has fours stars on it that denote four world club challenge wins.
"The Roosters are only one win behind them so that immediately adds some extra spice to the game."
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