Werris Creek second-rower Sam Lumby expects a hot reception from his former club and their faithful when the Magpies and the Bulldogs clash at Kitchener Park on Saturday.
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But Lumby warned that any attempt to target Werris Creek's skilled No.9, Callum Hayne, would backfire.
Lumby and Hayne left Gunnedah when Sean Hayne - Hayne's father - was replaced as Bulldogs coach at the end of last season.
At the time, Lumby expressed his dismay at the decision, after Sean Hayne steered Gunnedah to a narrow grand final loss to North Tamworth in 2018.
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While Callum Hayne declined to speak to the Leader ahead of Saturday's encounter, Lumby was typically outspoken.
"They're gonna be comin' after me - there's no doubt about that," he said.
"But it's another game of football for me. [I'm] pretty used to stirring up the pot a little bit.
They're gonna be comin' after me - there's no doubt about that.
- Sam Lumby
"I've had people coming after me for most of my footy career. Should be a bit more [on Saturday] - probably cop a bit from the crowd.
"But, you know, that's something I decided to take on ... That's all part of footy at the end of the day - I like sh-- stirring a little bit.
"I'd imagine the boys are gonna come after me a bit more than usual. That will be all right: I'll just cop that on the chin and play a game of footy, I guess."
Hayne - Gunnedah's captain, best and fairest and players' player from last season - is a big reason why the Magpies will go into Saturday's match with strong back-to-back wins.
Conversely, Gunnedah will looked to rebounded from 26-16 last-start loss to Dungowan at home.
Lumby expects Hayne to also come under extra scrutiny from his former teammates, but warned: "He's not really someone you want to try and run at, because he does bust people."
Lumby added: "I'm sure he'll handle it, anyway. He's a class above a lot of people in this Group."
