While all the focus might be on Shaun Johnson before Saturday's NRL semi-final between NZ Warriors and Newcastle Knights, Wayde Egan has been pinpointed as the player to watch by opposite Phoenix Crossland.
Egan, 26, has been an instrumental figure in the Warriors' run to the NRL playoffs this year.
The hooker has played 20 of the Warriors' 25 games this season, scoring six tries, creating five more and making 740 tackles at a success rate of just under 93 percent.
What's more, Egan has cemented himself as a go-to in the Warriors' spine this year alongside Johnson and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, among the key players for coach Andrew Webster.
On Saturday, Egan will line up against Crossland when the Warriors host the Knights for a spot in the NRL's preliminary final against Brisbane Broncos a week later.
And with the battle of the two hookers likely to play a vital role in deciding Saturday's victor, Crossland makes no bones of his admiration for the Warriors rake.
"Wayde Egan's been outstanding," Crossland told 7 News. "I've been trying to watch a bit of him this year.
"I think he's probably been the best hooker in the game this year. So, I'm trying to get a little bit off him this year.
"The whole team's been outstanding. I'm excited to go and try to match it with them."
Saturday will also see a reunion for the Knights, who'll come up against former charge Mitchell Barnett.
Barnett, 29, is enjoying a career-best season with the Warriors after relocating across the ditch at the start of the year.
Before that move, Barnett spent seven seasons with the Knights, playing more than 100 games for Newcastle.
For his former teammates, Barnett's place in the Warriors' best side is no surprise, even if they'll now be tasked with stopping him.
"I played a lot of footy with him," said Crossland of Barnett. "He's a great man, he was a sad loss for us.
"But to see him go over there and do what he's done, I'm so happy for him.
"I'm excited to go up against him this week and go toe-to-toe with him. He's such a warrior and competitor."
Supporting the Warriors will be a full house at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart.
It took minutes for tickets to be snapped up by Kiwi fans when they went on sale on Tuesday, with the Warriors boasting some of the best averages attendances - home and away - this season.
The Knights, who have also boasted impressive home crowd attendances, can't wait to get involved in that, added Crossland.
"I watch most of the Warriors' games when they're playing at home. Simply because they're a great footy team and they're exciting to watch," he said. "But when the crowd when they run out - and the whole game too - it's incredible.
"As weird as it sounds, I'm looking forward to watching them run out, being there and experiencing that and hopefully getting the job done.
"But I'm excited to see that and be part of the fans and country."
Join Newshub for live updates of NZ Warriors v Newcastle Knights from 6pm Saturday.
