Trent Robinson will cast friendship aside when his Sydney Roosters enter a season-defining five-game stretch that could well decide the struggling heavyweights' NRL finals fate.
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The Roosters take on Cronulla at PointsBet Stadium on Saturday night in a pivotal encounter that also marks Robinson's first head-to-head duel with his long-time former assistant coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
All business, Robinson is playing down the coaching match-up.
"This isn't personal," he said on Friday.
"It's a footy game. He's one of my best mates and that's not going to change wherever he's at.
"We've got a game and we want to play well and it's against the Sharks. You've got to separate the personal bit from the professional bit."
It's no great surprise Robinson doesn't have the time or energy to get swept up in any sub-plots as the Roosters fight to keep their title hopes alive.
Languishing in seventh spot, the Roosters play all four top four teams plus Canberra in the national capital over the next five weeks.
It's a brutal run, especially given they'll likely be without game-breaking fullback and captain James Tedesco during the State of Origin series.
After losses to lesser lights Canterbury, Newcastle and St George Illawarra, the Roosters find themselves needing to notch at least a couple of wins over the Sharks, Penrith, Melbourne, Parramatta and Canberra to remain in the eight.
Robinson, though, is refusing to look beyond the Sharks, publicly at least maintaining a positive front.
"We've got Cronulla tomorrow night. That's what we've got. We know where we're at. We know what kind of a team we want to be," he said.
"So we know who we are and how we want to play. There's some areas that we've identified that we want to keep pushing.
"I'm really liking some of the plays, the way that we're playing the game, and we need to add some finishing touches tomorrow night."
If they don't, the Roosters, one of the pre-season premiership favourites, will find themselves four points adrift of the top four with their gruelling run to come.
"The Sharks played some good footy. I feel like they've progressed well" Robinson said.
"(But) they've offered up opportunities in different stages. We want to be at our best tomorrow night and take that on."
The Sharks welcome back Will Kennedy from suspension and the fullback can't wait to gauge himself against Tedesco in another intriguing individual battle.
"He's a strong player and I respect him as a player and I've learnt a fair bit off him as well," Kennedy said.
"It's a big test for me this weekend."
Australian Associated Press
