By Paul Sculthorpe St Helens and Lions star

There will be a lot of pride at stake on Friday when St Helens go up against Sydney Roosters in the World Club Challenge.

This is, to all intents and purposes, an unofficial Test match.

And we are determined to make sure the trophy stays in this country.

If teams have to rely on the weather to win the World Club Challenge, there is something wrong Paul Sculthorpe

There has been a lot of talk about the weather and the referee in the build-up to the game, a lot of which does not hold much water with me.

Sure, the British players will be more used to playing in the cold conditions, but it should not be a decisive factor.

If teams have to rely on the weather to win the World Club Challenge, there is something wrong.

As for Russell Smith's credentials, he is the best man for the job, a referee who will be fair to both sides.

He was in the middle for last year's Test match in Sydney and did not do Great Britain any favours in that match.

So it is unfair to accuse him of possible bias against the Sydney Roosters. He is a genuine bloke and will call it as he sees it.

The Roosters have a lot of top players but they do not come with a bigger reputation than Brad Fittler.

Fittler is playing his best rugby at the moment

The man is a legend and a fantastic ambassador for his country.

He is also a great bloke off the pitch as well. And he is playing the best rugby of his career right now.

His decision to quit the international arena is clearly paying off in a big way. His achievements of last season prove that.

The Roosters have some top players in their squad, but when 'Freddie' is playing they look a pretty formidable unit.

It will be fantastic to go head-to-head with him again.

And when I look book on my career, it will be a great to say I was once on the same pitch as him.

I have read Freddie's comments in the build-up to Friday's game and it is clear he is fired up for this one.

A win on Friday will also give us a massive boost on the eve of the new Super League season Paul Sculthorpe

He has won virtually everything there is to win in the game but needs this to complete the set.

I hope he doesn't - not this time around anyway.

We are desperate to get our hands on the trophy again.

There is the enormous prestige of being world club champions, but a win on Friday will also give us a massive boost on the eve of the new Super League season.

Our first game is against Bradford Bulls, who will be aiming to put one over us after our last-gasp win in the Grand Final.

So it would do the lads the power of good to go into that match on the back of a win over the Roosters.