DRAGONS coach Paul McGregor hasn't bothered looking for weakness in the Roosters this week. He admits he probably couldn't find one if he tried.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After an 0-2 start, the defending premiers have shot out of blocks since the competition resumed, winning four straight games by a combined margin of 153-28.
It's put them odds-on favourite to make it in three premierships in a row, and presents a daunting task for the Dragons, who've managed two wins this season against struggling opposition.
It's a big ask for his side - currently at $7 with bookmakers - on Friday night, but McGregor says they fully believe they're capable of springing the upset.
"They're two-time premiers. They don't have any real weaknesses as individuals or as a team, you've just got to make sure your focus is on yourselves," McGregor said.
"We've obviously done a really good preview of what the Roosters bring and we've got to go out there and be determined to stop it. Their starts to the game are really impressive so we need to make sure we control that momentum early.
"When they get momentum and hold it for a long period of time, that's when they're at their best, so we've got to make sure that momentum is stable for us. It's actually exciting to play a team that's setting the benchmark in the competition since the return in round three.
"Each week's a real test in the NRL, we're obviously playing a team that's been unbeaten since the return to footy so they're a really good football side but we expect to win every time we take the field and this week's no different."
The title seems to be changing hands every week, but McGregor was the most under pressure coach in the NRL three weeks ago where he narrowly avoided the axe.
Sign up for Tackle Count, the NRL newsletter you need: Straight to your mailbox every Thursday before the footy kicks off
The Dragons have since strung together two wins and an upset over the Roosters would give him the clearest air in more than 12 months, though it's not his focus.
"I'm alright, I get my satisfaction from working and being busy," McGregor said.
"I've said all along, I've got really good self-awareness and I'm comfortable in the situation. I've got belief in my staff and my playing group and all I'm doing each day is doing my best in the current environment.
"All we're looking at is improving ourselves on a weekly basis. We're a hundred per cent fixated on doing that. The last couple of weeks we've had improvement and we need to further improve, play a good style of footy and play the right way on Friday night."
Young guns Jackson Foord and Jason Saab will see their first NRL action of the season against the Roosters, with the latter having been in headlines looking for a release from his deal.
He gets his opportunity this week in a head-to-head showdown with the form winger of the competition in evergreen former Dragon Brett Morris, and McGregor's confident the 19-year-old's in the right frame of mind.
"I've got a good relationship with Jason, I gave him his debut at a young age last year," McGregor said.
"I understand there's been some conversation around that he'd like an early release. The situation is Jason's with the club for another few years.
"He's fit and ready to play now, he hasn't been in the past. He gets his opportunity this week and he's certainly ready to go. They're his words as well.
"He's made it quite clear the last couple of weeks he wants to play first grade for this club and he gets that opportunity."