They hold the key to reviving the Sydney Roosters following the pitfalls of 2016 and now Luke Keary and Mitchell Pearce are coming together like clockwork.
Trent Robinson's side's ability to lift themselves from the canvas following their scandal and injury-plagued season will largely depend on Pearce getting in sync with ex-South Sydney playmaker Keary.
There's a symmetry about the pair - both have won titles over the last four years and want to get back to that peak together.
Both are also coming off seasons filled unwanted headlines and distractions.
Pearce's Australia Day meltdown torpedoed the Roosters' season before it began while Keary's pre-season blow up with Souths co-owner Russell Crowe hastened his exit from Redfern.
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"We've had a full pre-season together, I haven't missed too many sessions through injury. We've got a fair bit of work done," Keary said.
"Mitchell is a great player and a really good bloke off the field. He can play footy."
The side's fortunes will depend on whether their new-look spine of Pearce, Keary, co-captain Jake Friend and former Parramatta fullback Michael Gordon can hit the ground running.
While clubs often caution patience when going into a year with a new-look roster, Keary said finding his feet with Pearce had come relatively easily.
"I thought it was going to be hard. It hasn't been easy but it's been enjoyable," Keary said.
"They don't make things complicated and they've got a really good culture."
Keary is relishing his new beginning under Robinson, who he described as a master mentor who he could see playing his best footy under.
"He's a real intelligent guy and he knows his footy and he's helped me a lot with certain parts of my game," Keary said.
"He's given me a certain job that I need to do this year and he's made it really clear on how I need to get to that level and what I need to do during the 80 minutes. It's really clear what I need to do."
