Paulo has dropped a remarkable 12 kilograms while training for a charity boxing bout on Friday night against one of rugby league's most divisive figures.

Gallen led the Sharks to their first NRL premiership this year but missed the finals clash against the Raiders when Cronulla players mocked the Viking Clap.

But the Gallen-Raiders hostility runs much deeper, with the Sharks skipper accusing Josh Papalii of a "dog shot" in the 2012 finals campaign.

This time the Raiders are sending a different hitman at Gallen and Paulo hopes his streamlined figure can help deliver the knockout blow and then kickstart his charge to the NSW State of Origin team.

"I don't have any beef with Paul Gallen, we've never had a run in," Paulo said.

"He's a good bloke but obviously [on Friday] it's a different stage for us. I'm pretty sure there are a lot of people who want me to put one on his chin.

"I've got nothing against the bloke, we're fighting for a good cause but at the end of the day it's a fight.

"I'm probably the fittest I've been in the last few years, I've cut down 12 or 13 kilos since the end of the season and I'm trying to get better and better."

Paulo was named in the emerging Blues squad on Wednesday and will go into camp with NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley in January to press his claims for a call up.

Paulo and Shannon Boyd have formed a devastating wrecking ball partnership as the Raiders' front-rowers and both will push to transfer their tag-team into the Origin cauldron.

Paulo's regular playing weight is 128 kilograms but he blew out to 132 kilograms on an off-season holiday in Hawaii.

When he returned to Australia he got straight to work in the boxing ring and is now down to 120 kilograms.

His new fitness levels earned him an extra two weeks of holidays and Raiders coach Ricky Stuart gave his blessing for Paulo to base himself in Sydney to fine tune his boxing.

Paulo admits he's a boxing novice having never stepped into the ring for a fight before. But in training he knocked out one of his sparring partners and Gallen's next on the list.

"I believe I've ticked all the boxes for the fight but also for the Raiders for next year," Paulo said.

"I've been training five or six days a week with sometimes three sessions a day. I won't come out throwing haymakers, I've got to be smart.

"I'm confident going into the fight. I don't think too many people are backing me because Gallen has the experience in the ring, but there will come a time when I step in and let the hands talk.

"It will be a challenge to see how I go in the NRL at a lighter weight, but I'm just going to have to work hard and make sure it all comes together."

The next fight Paulo has will be juggling a slimmer frame with his power game in the NRL.

Paulo is one of the most feared ball-runners in the game and has a reputation for trampling opponents.

"We're expecting big things in Canberra next year so I can't wait to get back into that," Paulo said.

"State of Origin has always been a goal for me and next year is no different. It's been on my hit list for a while now and only playing good footy for the Raiders will help me.

"Boxing has given me a bit of a head-start fitness wise for the pre-season. "