With friends like James Maloney, Matt Moylan doesn't need enemies.
Penrith captain Maloney has played down a rivalry with Cronulla No.6 Moylan following their high-profile swap, saying it won't be personal in their anticipated showdown in Friday's NRL semi-final.
But it has not stopped the Panthers playmaker from pouring pressure on Moylan, saying the Sharks pivot will be feeling the heat in injured back-rower Wade Graham's absence.
Maloney said he expected his duel with Moylan to be beaten up in the media ahead of their knockout clash following their huge 2017 swap.
But Maloney says he gets on fine with "Moysa".
"That's how they (media) will drum it up but for me there is nothing personal there - Matty and I get on really well," he told Sky Sports Radio.
"I left the Sharks on good terms, I have great relationships with all the players and a lot of the staff at the club.
"For me it is about this team progressing to next week and they are the team standing in the way of that - that's as far as it goes."
However, Maloney was quick to put Moylan under the pump following news star forward Graham suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Sharks' qualifying final loss to Sydney Roosters.
Maloney said it was now up to Moylan to fill the gaping hole in the Sharks' left edge attack with Graham sidelined.
"He (Graham) brings a lot to their team, really takes control of that edge of his," Maloney said.
"It takes a lot of calmness and football out of their side.
"It probably puts a lot more pressure on Moysa to be the creative bloke on that edge, but he is more than capable of doing that."
Debate has raged over which club got the better deal this season after Maloney left for Penrith looking for a pay upgrade after his Cronulla 2016 premiership heroics, while Moylan reportedly fell out with then Panthers coach Anthony Griffin.
For the record, Maloney believes both clubs won.
"Cronulla would be happy with the acquisition of Matty. He's a young player with plenty of ability and good footy," he said.
"And as far as I know Penrith are pretty happy with what they got.
"I don't see it as someone had a win and someone had a loss. Who got the better deal, I think both sides got what they are after."
Maloney appears the standout after guiding NSW to a second State of Origin series win in 13 years and steering the Panthers through a late season slide to the finals despite Griffin's axing.
But statistics have shown the Sharks got more bang for their buck with Moylan leading Maloney in try assists, linebreaks and linebreak assists this year since overcoming a hamstring complaint and finding his groove in The Shire.
Moylan was a standout against his old club in their only clash with Penrith's Maloney since the swap, inspiring the Sharks' 26-22 round seven win in April.
Maloney, meanwhile, is primed to train on Wednesday after playing down neck concerns aggravated by heavy hits in last week's win over the Warriors.
"It was sore after the game, quite stiff, but it settled down quickly which was good - it's been as good as it has been," said Maloney, who will require a cortisone injection to play.
