South Sydney’s Sam Burgess is looking forward to his NRL battle of the Brits showdown with Gareth Ellis on Sunday, but won’t be winding up the Wests Tigers star with any pre-match banter.

The pair, who both hail from Yorkshire, are good friends and two of the premier back-rowers in the NRL.

However, with their sides both sitting at 1-3 after poor starts to the season, Burgess says there’ll be no contact until after the game.

“I know big Gaz quite well and I am looking forward to the challenge of coming up against him,” Burgess said.

“He’s been their best player for the last three years and a great competitor who’s been the Tigers’ best player for the last three years.

“There might be a bit of talk out there on the field, but it’s all in good fun. I love Gareth as a player, love watching him play and enjoy coming up against him.

“I’m not sure yet if he’ll be on my side, but it will be good to face him.”

Souths have squandered winning positions in two of their three defeats this season and Burgess admits a lack of attention to detail on the field is costing them.

“It is such a tough competition, the salary cap is so tight, and games can be won and lost on the smallest thing,” he said.

“It’s probably just our concentration at around the 60-70 minute mark. That’s where games are won and lost and we need to be better.

“We are playing OK football we just need to take a firm grip of the game when we have control.”

Burgess will have special reason to get one over Ellis, with his mother flying in from England for the game.

“She just loves her football, she has four boys who all play and she played a bit herself,” he said.

“She gets very worried when we play. I used to watch with her when my brothers were playing in England and it was quite painful at times.

“I’m just glad I’m playing and not watching with her as she jumps around for the whole game.”