Matt Moylan still feels like a "westie" but insists he's found a home in the Shire.
All eyes will be on the Cronulla five-eighth when he turns out against former club Penrith in Friday's NRL semi-final at Allianz Stadium.
After his player swap with James Maloney during last off-season, he will be pitched in a tantalising head-to-head battle with the NSW playmaker.
Moylan has got the better of the Panthers this year, with the Sharks taking home the points in their two meetings with Penrith.
He drove a dagger through the heart of his former club in round 18 when he memorably scored one try and set up another for the Sharks' 24-12 win at Panthers Stadium.
But he knows ultimate bragging rights will go to whoever comes out on top on Friday night.
"I've played them a couple of times during the year so it's not like it's the first time we've played them," Moylan said.
"It's a bigger occasion, but I know we've got a job to do.
"It's going to be spoken about because we swapped teams but it's a semi-final and we've got to put in a good performance or else it's the end of our season."
Moylan remains close to several people in the Panthers playing group and last week had dinner with Dean Whare.
The 27-year-old was expecting to spend the rest of his career at the Panthers, pointing out he had signed a five-year deal with the club in 2016 before being moved on.
He has begun to show signs of finding his feet after a season of learning the Sharks' style of game.
Asked if he still felt like a westie, Moylan said: "Obviously I grew up out there. I'm definitely a westie, just relocated.
"I'm definitely grateful for the opportunity I had there. I had some good years there but I moved on and I've loved my time here."
For the past seven years the Sharks have dominated their match-ups with Penrith, winning their past five straight and 10 of their last 12.
"The style of footy that Cronulla has always played has been that tough sort of footy. They make you really earn it," Moylan said.
"When we were out there we just weren't consistent enough to earn those results sometimes."
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