The Sydney Roosters' last premiership-winning halves pairing say Mitchell Aubusson is the right man to fill Cooper Cronk's No.7 jumper if the champion halfback is ruled out of Sunday's NRL grand final against Melbourne.
Most experts believe Roosters coach Trent Robinson was only playing mind games when he named utility Aubusson to start at halfback for the first time in his career for Sunday's decider at ANZ Stadium.
But both 2013 premiership winners Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney have backed Luke Keary to take the reins as a sole playmaker, leaving Aubusson to play as a defensive option on the edge and ball runner.
"I think Lukey Keary will take a lot more responsibility there and steer them around - he's had a massive year," Maloney told AAP.
"Aubo will come in and play a running role. He can fill a role anywhere. He won't try and play as a half, he'll try and play his natural running game and do that.
"They're both very good defensive sides. I think there is just a bit more strike power in the Roosters and I think they will score more points."
Cronk's availability to face his former club is unlikely to be announced until an hour before kick off on Sunday evening.
But he's perhaps a step closer to pulling off a medical miracle after being included in the Roosters' trimmed 19-strong squad on an extended bench with back-up No.7 Sean O'Sullivan cut.
Aubusson is still named at No.7.
Meanwhile Pearce will watch his boyhood club play in their first grand final from Melbourne on Sunday, with the Newcastle halfback in Victoria this weekend for the AFL grand final.
A favourite son of the tri-colours, Pearce played two grand finals and six finals series with the Roosters before he was put out by the signing of Cronk last off-season.
But he'll still support his former teammates from interstate come Sunday.
"Their (the Roosters') defence is rock solid, they have the best defensive side in the competition," Pearce said.
"They've had a good defence there for a long time but I think this year they've defended as well as they ever have.
"Defence wins comps and if they do that on Sunday they'll be hard to beat."
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