McGregor plans to pick de Belin for Charity Shield

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has called for calm over Jack de Belin as he confirmed the NSW State of Origin forward would be selected for next weekend’s Charity Shield clash with South Sydney.

De Belin, whose immediate playing future is set to be decided at Thursday's ARL Commission meeting, did not play in Saturday's 18-10 trial defeat of Newcastle at WIN Stadium due to a virus.

However, McGregor said he would name de Belin, who has been charged with aggravated sexual assault, to return in the Charity Shield alongside England prop James Graham and Australian second-rower Tyson Frizell.

"We'll be running out our side as close as we can to round one and the players will be playing minutes as close to what they need to be ready for round one," McGregor said.

"I will choose the closest 17 as I can who are fit and healthy, and that will include James and Friz being back next week and obviously Jack if he is available."

McGregor did not want to take any questions on de Belin, who has become the focal point of an off-season of player misbehaviour after the allegations against him were detailed in court evidence, but he outlined his views in a prepared statement.

"I recognise the significance and importance surrounding the current proceedings regarding Jack de Belin and the allegations against him. There is a judicial process underway to establish a resolution to this allegation and dispute," McGregor said.

"Jack's welfare is our main concern and it is important that integrity and wellbeing are considered.

"If history and the past decade has taught us anything in rugby league, it is to refrain from making assumptions prior to legal proceedings being concluded.

"My focus needs to be on all 35 players in our squad and starting the season well for everyone associated with the Dragons and as such, I'm not interested in adding anything further to the commentary on this matter."

The Dragons used 28 players in the trial against the Knights and McGregor was largely happy with the performance of his key players but admitted there were still some positions yet to be decided.

Among them are right centre and right wing, with Zac Lomax playing both positions during the trial, while Eaun Aitken started at right centre before moving to left centre in the second half.

McGregor confirmed that fullback Matt Dufty was likely to fill the No.14 jersey in a move which could see captain Gareth Widdop shift to five-eighth, Corey Norman to halfback, Ben Hunt to hooker and Cameron McGuiness to lock when Dufty came on.

“We know Gareth is a world class five-eighth, he was also one of the better players at the World Cup at fullback, we know Hunty can nine, he plays off the interchange at nine for Australia and Cam can play 13 so there is an opportunity to play them all at some stage as well,” McGregor said.

“Duft is a really important part of our team, he knows that and that is why he stayed with us long term. I would rather be looking at them than looking for them, and to have the depth there is good.”

Hooker Reece Robson is another option for the bench utility role, while prop Josh Kerr only needs to increase the length of time he can play in each stint to come into contention for an interchange role.

Fijian winger Mikaele Ravalawa scored two tries and while he is a raw talent McGregor said he was a player who had put himself in the frame.

“He finished off two nice tries but unfortunately he came up with two errors in yardage as well so we have just got to make his best and worst not too far apart,” McGregor said.

“He is certainly an athlete, he is (188cm), 106kg, can run, changes ball with either hand, fends with either arm, he is explosive so we have got to keep working with him because he is only new to our systems but he is a big boy and something we are looking for in our outside backs.”