LEEDS forward Stevie Ward believes playing in the World Club Challenge will help make up for the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup.

The 24-year-old second-rower made a remarkable recovery from a dislocated shoulder to help the Rhinos beat Castleford in the Super League Grand Final in October.

But he was then forced to undergo shoulder surgery within days of the Old Trafford decider, which ruled him out of England's trip down under.

Ward actually went to Australia for a holiday during his recuperation and admits England's valiant display in pushing the Kangaroos right to the last whistle in the final whetted his appetite for his international debut.

"Watching the boys and seeing how close we came does make me want to be part of it in the future," he said.

"Of course I was gutted about missing the World Cup – but it's a new season, a new challenge, and it's really exciting to go over for the World Club Challenge."

Ward made his comeback in last Thursday's 20-11 win over Hull KR and is raring to go against Melbourne at AAMI Park on Friday.

"I played in 2013 against Melbourne at Headingley when we just couldn't get over the line in the last ten minutes," he recalled.

"So there's a bit of past experience to try and overcome and to do it in their backyard would be brilliant. It's such a rare occurrence for a Super League team to go over there."

Ward says the Leeds players are delighted to swap the freezing temperatures of an English winter for a balmy Australian summer and believes the difficulties associated with jet-lag are exaggerated.

"A lot of the boys are happy about going from one or two degrees to 20-odd," he said.

"When you are playing a game like that, things like tiredness and lethargy kind of subsides. Once you're in such a big challenge like that, it's all or nothing and you put everything out there.

"It's a really big challenge but an opportunity for a lot of boys in our side to prove themselves.

"It would be nice to notch our names up on that trophy and create a bit of history by doing it in their backyard."

While Melbourne are still in pre-season, Leeds have the benefit of having played two league games to gain some match fitness and Ward is expecting a close-fought contest.

He said: "Melbourne will be a well-oiled machine. They've had some pre-season training and they've also got that experience of last year and how to win big games.

"We've had a couple of games under our belt, so I'd imagine it will be a pretty fair contest on that side of things."