Sydney Roosters forward Angus Crichton has vowed to make Nathan Cleary's life difficult as the Panthers halfback prepares to return from a shoulder injury on Friday night.
The playmaker has spent the past three weeks on the sidelines after aggravating the injury he has carried since the pre-season in a Round 24 loss to the Melbourne Storm.
On Friday he will be thrown straight back into the fire when Penrith host the Roosters in a qualifying final at BlueBet Stadium.
Crichton has formed a close friendship with Cleary during their time together in NSW and Kangaroos camps but a smile comes across his face when asked about the prospect of lining up opposite the star halfback.
Nathan Cleary is forced from the field with a shoulder injury
"I hope he plays," Crichton told pan66.com. "I've had a lot of good match-ups against him, he's key to their team and we don't want any excuses.
"We've known each other since we've both been in the league, we've gone on tour together, won big games in the Origin arena together and had plenty of battles opposite each other.
"When he's fit and playing, he's the best player in the competition. To be the best, you've got to beat the best and that's what we want to do."
Match: Panthers v Roosters
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Panthers
2nd Position
away Team
Roosters
3rd Position
Venue: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
The battle between the Roosters left edge and Panthers right edge shapes as one of the most fascinating contests in Friday's showdown.
Representative stars are present on both sides, with Crichton joined by five-eight Luke Keary, centre Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i and winger Daniel Tupou.
Cleary will have Liam Martin, Izack Tago and Brian To'o alongside him as Penrith eye a direct path into the preliminary final.
Martin, in particular, will play a key role protecting his halfback and ensuring Crichton doesn't have a clear run at the playmaker.
The edge forwards are also NSW teammates and both grew up in the small town of Temora in the Riverina.
With a population of just 4000, it's not lost on Crichton how unlikely it is for such a small town to produce two NRL stars.
"You go on this ride, play this sport and a lot of people say you're not going to be able to get to the NRL," Crichton said. "Then two guys born at the same hospital are playing Origin together. It's pretty crazy when you think about it.
"I never knew him growing up ... but I'm good mates with him now. We've had some great wins together and some good battles so I'm excited to go up against him."
The physicality and aggression of Angus Crichton
Recent history is against the Roosters in their bid to secure a home preliminary final, with the side struggling against the Panthers in the past few years.
Their last victory at BlueBet Stadium came in Round 3 2017 and they have lost their past nine games against Penrith in a stretch dating back to 2020.
It's a record the Roosters are constantly reminded of but it's one they are determined not to dwell on. Instead, Keary said they must focus on their own preparation as they look to overcome the recent loss of Sam Walker, Victor Radley and Brandon Smith to injury.
"This is not about Penrith, this is about us," Keary told pan66.com. "We haven't been at our best against them in a little while and we know we need to be at our best.
"If we can be at our best, we'll be there in the 79th or 80th minute. In these games you can be the better team and still lose or you can be the worse team and win. It'll come down to who can take the big moments at certain times in the game."
