Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Boyd Cordner will audition for the role of Sydney Roosters captain after being thrust into an interim leadership role at the NRL club in the absence of injured skipper Anthony Minichiello.
Former Golden Boot winner Minichiello will miss the next three weeks with a knee injury and remains unsigned beyond this season, which means Kiwi Test prop Waerea-Hargreaves or NSW back-rower Cordner could lead the Roosters as early as next year.
That is if coach Trent Robinson's choice of the duo as Roosters co-captains for Saturday's Allianz Stadium encounter against Canberra is anything to go by.
Waerea-Hargreaves, 24, has been one of the form props of the NRL this season and has literally led from the front as the Roosters have climbed to the top of the NRL ladder, while Corder, 21, has enjoyed a breakthrough season and was rewarded with a Blues jersey for the State of Origin decider.
Hooker Jake Friend and halfback Mitchell Pearce are other possibilities to take over the captaincy from Minichiello when he retires, having been named by Robinson as vice-captains at the start of the season.
Meanwhile, young gun Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will fill in as custodian in Minichiello's enforced absence.
Tuivasa-Sheck is considered the heir apparent to the 2002 premiership winner's fullback crown but it will be the first time he will start in the No.1 jersey in the NRL.
"I'm excited ... a little bit nervous but I'm really looking forward to the game," Tuivasa-Sheck said.
"Having that space really excites me and being able to control the team.
"I want to add my flair to it."
Tuivasa-Sheck played fullback in the National Youth Competition for the Roosters but said Minichiello had been busy schooling him in the fine arts of the fullback position in the lead-up to the Raiders clash.
"I've been working hard on my defence and my positioning on the line with Mini," he told the Roosters website.
"I just want to be there for the boys and earn their respect at the back."
