St George Illawarra are preparing to face an unsettled Sydney Roosters side on Thursday after the premiers were forced to reshuffle their lineup for the annual Anzac Day clash.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Luke Keary will miss the match after suffering a concussion in last week's win over the Storm, with Latrell Mitchell moving to five-eighth and Mitchell Aubusson into the centres. In positive news for the Roosters, co-captain Jake Friend will return to the team after missing the last three matches.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor has no such concerns, with the newly-re-signed leader naming an unchanged lineup to the side that secured a two-point victory over Manly on Saturday night.
Thursday's clash will see six Dragons lining up in their first Anzac Day fixture for the club, with Corey Norman, Jordan Pereira and Blake Lawrie among that group.
For Pereira, who is in just his second season of NRL, the opportunity to play on a day with so much meaning is an honour and a privilege.
"I'm anticipating it to be similar to a finals atmosphere," Pereira said. "I'm just taking it like it's just another game, try not let the noise affect me.
"But to be a part of something that means so much to where I'm from in New Zealand, and as well as here, it adds that special element to it."
"It will be like that finals atmosphere, but I think a fair bit more passionate."
Pereira will line up opposite Roosters winger Matt Ikuvalu, who will play just his eighth game in the NRL on Thursday after coming into the side to replace the injured Brett Morris in round three.
With Ikuvalu a relative unknown for most rugby league fans, Pereira concedes he too doesn't know too much about the man he will oppose at the SCG.
Read more: Dragons ready for Anzac Day test
"I haven't done the video yet, I don't watch football. I wait until we do our homework and we go from there.
"I suppose it'll be like you guys reading the paper, maybe you don't like doing it, or maybe you do, I'm not sure. I like to take my mind as far away from football.
"It's real consuming this sport, especially the professional environment, it's mentally taxing and I've found personally it's good to clear my head and do stuff with my fiancee that's not football related."
"Normally I'm trying to recover, so I'm just going to the beach, or if we just go on a bush walk, I try to find a local swimming hole, there's heaps throughout the Illawarra area."
While you're with us the Illawarra Mercury is offering sport readers 20% off an annual digital subscription. Sign up to stay up to date with all the local sports you love for only $3.00 a week. Terms and conditions apply.