State of Origin loyalties will be cast aside when Brisbane lock Josh McGuire lines up against his good mate, Sydney Roosters enforcer Dylan Napa, in an NRL qualifying final.
Napa made his Origin debut this year and quickly bonded with fellow livewire McGuire in the Queensland camp.
But Test forward McGuire said he looked forward to butting heads with his close friend at Allianz Stadium, describing the fiery redhead as one of the world's best props.
Napa returns for the Roosters along with ex-Maroons teammate Aidan Guerra after they enjoyed a last-round rest.
"He's a quality player and bloke. I am good mates with him," McGuire said of Napa.
"I look forward to playing one of the best front-rowers in the world.
"He's been a quality player all year in my eyes."
McGuire may have been full of praise for Napa but will have no problem lining up the Roosters giant on Friday night.
"I have known him for a while now, he's a good mate of mine," he said.
"But that was the Origin camp and this is the NRL."
McGuire said Napa had formed a powerful front-row double act with Kiwi juggernaut Jared Waerea-Hargreaves at the Roosters.
"Him and Dylan have been in terrific form this year, he (Waerea-Hargreaves) is one of the form forwards in the competition," he said.
"It's a big challenge for our ruck. We need to be energetic and enthusiastic."
Prop Adam Blair admitted he would need to step up against the Napa-inspired Roosters pack after taking over the Brisbane captaincy from fullback Darius Boyd (hamstring).
"If you give them an opportunity to roll down the field with players like Waerea-Hargreaves and Napa they are hard to contain," he said.
"We have a massive task in the middle.
"But we have 80 minutes on Friday night that will set up the rest of our season."
The Roosters have won their last four games against Brisbane at Allianz Stadium.
Share
