NEW Giants signing Luke O’Donnell returns to pre-season training today and has immediately begun the countdown to Super League XVI.

The 30-year-old former Australia Test back-row forward will soon fulfil a career ambition by doing battle in England’s top rugby league competition.

O’Donnell is expected to feature for the first time in the claret and gold in Eorl Crabtree’s testimonial clash at home to Hull KR on Sunday, January 16.

And he will then take his place alongside David Fa’alogo for his side’s Super League opener against Warrington Wolves at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday, February 12.

It’s a clash that already excites O’Donnell, who has found little trouble fitting into a new life in West Yorkshire – despite the recent icy blast.

“I’ve always been keen on the idea of playing in Super League and I’m even more excited about the prospect now it’s getting so much closer,” he said.

“I feel I was really lucky to have a club like Huddersfield coming in for me.

“I’ve been really impressed with everything about the club from the day I got here, and that’s made me even more excited about the season ahead.

“It’s great to be a part of this set-up.”

The vastly-experienced back-rower left top Australian NRL club North Queensland Cowboys at the end of last season.

He arrived in Huddersfield with 10 caps for Australia and two State of Origin series on his CV.

But after 11 seasons in the NRL he felt the time was right for a change and wasted little time in arranging the next chapter in his career.

“I’ve played with Dave Faiumu a fair bit back in Oz and when I spoke to him about it, he only had positive things to say about the club,” he added.

“Fuey made it an easy decision for me.”

An out-of-contract State of Origin player was always bound to attract the attention of several clubs, and the Giants faced huge competition in obtaining the signature they wanted.

But O’Donnell knows he’s made the right choice.

“I had a couple of other offers but I didn’t wait around. I didn’t try and play one off against the other or anything like that,” he continued.

“There were solid offers on the table for me to stay in the NRL but I wanted a change and I think it’s going to be good for me.

“I definitely don’t want to start the season slowly.

“So far I’ve put a decent off-season behind me and I’m looking forward to slipping into the style of play that Browny (Nathan Brown) wants us to play. I want to hit the ground running.

“I obviously want to win the Premiership (Super League), it’s something I have always wanted to achieve, but I never managed in the NRL.

“I’ve played in Grand Finals and come close in play-off series, so over here I definitely want to take it that stage further.

“From what I’ve seen, the squad here at Huddersfield is more than capable of achieving big things this year.”