Bring it on.
Mitchell Pearce has embraced the hype as he and fellow Sydney Roosters half James Maloney prepare for a showdown for NSW spots against Canterbury's Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds next week.
Just four days before NSW coach Laurie Daley is due to name his side for the State of Origin series opener, the halves pairings will go head-to-head when their sides meet at ANZ Stadium on Friday.
Daley has yet to settle on his No.6 and No.7 for Origin I on May 27 and the Bulldogs-Roosters clash is shaping as a mouth-watering prospect with Blues jerseys the prize.
Hodkinson and Reynolds are the NSW incumbents but their form has been indifferent this season.
Canterbury five-eighth Reynolds did himself no favours when he was suspended for one week for a trip during City-Country and will sit out the Bulldogs' clash with North Queensland on Saturday.
Meanwhile Maloney and Pearce have firmed to regain their NSW spots after leading the Roosters to a 36-4 win over the Wests Tigers on Friday night.
Pearce was a standout, setting up two tries, having a hand in another before scoring one himself.
He said he was aware there would be massive hype heading into next Friday's clash with the Bulldogs but welcomed the spotlight.
While he was in the past guilty of lilting in big games, he said he was now harnessing the pressure.
"When you're younger you can take it the wrong way sometimes," Pearce said.
"It's a big period leading up to Origin. It's always the same sort of talk as a player every year."
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said his halves were a little older and wiser since being dropped by the Blues last year and backed them to deliver under pressure again next week.
"They're important players in any team but for us our six and seven lead the way along with Friendy (hooker Jake Friend)," Robinson said.
"Next week is another big challenge. There will be a lot of external stuff and talk about Origin and talk about playing for spots.
"But at the end of the day they've just got to play the Bulldogs and play our best style of footy.
"They're getting much better at getting rid of all that and just playing footy."
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