Roosters set for torrid Rabbitohs derby

Mar 22, 2017 - 1:16 AM The Sydney Roosters are wary of Adam Reynolds and the five-day turnaround as they brace for a typically torrid derby between the NRL's oldest arch-rivals.

The Roosters-Rabbitohs fixture has been the season-opening showpiece in 11 of the past 12 years, before it was shunned to week four in 2017.

But try telling Roosters coach Trent Robinson it's no longer the grudge match of the season.

"There is always an intensity that goes into these games whether we try and admit it or not. There always is and it always ends up that way," Robinson said on Wednesday.

"I've said it before, we live next door to each other so it's always an important game.

"It's always one we look at at the start of the year - when we're playing each other.

"We look forward to a big battle again."

Robinson, though, would have preferred more time to prepare for Thursday night's showdown after his side edged Penrith 14-12 in a sapping Saturday thriller.

"It's hard on a five-day turnaround. It's not a long week so basically you're trying to recover and then get ready," Robinson said.

"There's not a lot of work done so there's a lot of mental prep in five-day turnarounds."

Starting the year with three wins from as many starts, the Roosters are eyeing their best start to a season since 1996, yet Robinson, who guided the tricolours to three consecutive minor premierships before last year's flop, is commanding perfection.

"If we're playing like we are at the moment in 10 weeks' time, we're not playing well enough," he said, noting the Rabbitohs' resurgence after a round-one drubbing at the hands of Wests Tigers had coincided with the return of Reynolds.

Robinson is backing his own star halves to again deliver after he took in-form five-eighth Luke Keary aside this week to ensure the former Rabbitohs player was in the right head space to face his former team for the first time.

"It's important enough to have a conversation but the guy's played lots of big games and he is a cool cat so he knows how he wants to play," Robinson said.

"We're still trying to find our best footy and get our combinations right so his focus is really on trying to improve what we've been doing.

"But I'm sure in the back of his mind, (you know) you're playing your old team. I'm sure it will be there. He's human."

Souths coach Michael Maguire is equally aware of the danger Keary and Roosters No.7 Mitchell Pearce will pose at ANZ Stadium.

"They've got a good combination. It's a threat we need to be aware of," Maguire said.

"That's off the back of their forward pack. Their forward pack's definitely rolling forward."

STATS THAT MATTER

* The Roosters are chasing a four-from-four start for the first time since 1996.

* The Rabbitohs have won three of their past four at ANZ Stadium against the Roosters.

* Souths (80 points) and the Roosters (74) have the best and equal-third best attacking records in the league respectively.

Source: AAP