Penrith centre Jamal Idris has played down the significance of facing former club Canterbury in Saturday’s NRL preliminary final at ANZ Stadium, claiming it’s just another game.

Idris has enjoyed his best season since his rookie year with the Bulldogs in 2009 but the giant 24-year-old said he’s unconcerned about being singled out for abuse by Bulldogs fans.

“I think everyone else is more focused on it than me,” Idris told AAP.

“I left there three years ago, and I have played for the Gold Coast in between that time so I don’t think it is that big a deal anymore.”

Despite his undoubted natural talent, Idris, who turned his back on a promising athletics career to join Canterbury’s junior program, has not had the easiest path since breaking onto the scene six years ago.

Weight issues have affected the affable New South Welshman since he debuted in first grade, and this year he suffered some emotional problems that saw him take time out of the game mid-season.

But with his side now one win away from a grand final, the recently-engaged Idris is happy, fit, healthy and fully prepared for any barbs that come his way from the Canterbury fans.

“I always had a great relationship with them when I was there and they always come up to me in the street and say `why did you leave us?'”, he said.

“But it was a few years back now that I left. I have played against them lots of times both with Penrith and the Titans so it’s not that big a deal.

“I still have a lot of friends there though, guys like Frankie Pritchard, Greg Eastwood, who I love to death, and Josh Reynolds who I played with at under-20s.

“But I am only worried about my teammates with Penrith and doing my best for them in this game now.

“It would be amazing to get to a grand final.”