The Roosters are set to go head-to-head with the top of the ladder Cronulla Sharks on Monday night for the first time since Round 13 of the 2015 season.
After a horror 2014 Wooden Spoon season for the Sharks, they improved to 6th place on the ladder in 2015 and now look set for a top four finish this season.
It hasn't been an easy season for the Roosters, who will be looking forward to the challenge of meeting the benchmark team in the competition this year for what is destined to be a passionate battle.
KEY MATCH-UPS
1. Latrell Mitchell | Ben Barba
2. Daniel Tupou | Sosaia Feki
3. Dale Copley | Jack Bird
4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall | Gerard Beale
5. Joseph Manu | Valentine Holmes
6. Ryan Matterson | James Maloney
7. Mitchell Pearce | Chad Townsend
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves | Andrew Fifita
9. Jake Friend (c) | Michael Ennis
10. Dylan Napa | Sam Tagataese
11. Boyd Cordner | Luke Lewis
12. Mitchell Aubusson | Wade Graham
13. Sio Siua Taukeiaho | Paul Gallen
INTERCHANGE
14. Sam Moa | Joseph Paulo
15. Kane Evans | Chris Heighington
16. Isaac Liu | Matt Prior
17. Connor Watson | Jayson Bukuya
LATRELL MITCHELL vs BEN BARBA
16 | GAMES | 16
11 | TRIES | 11
1846 | RUNNING METRES| 1667
10 | LINE BREAKS | 11
187 | HITUPS | 182
JACK BIRD vs SHAUN KENNY-DOWALL
15 | GAMES | 12
2 | TRIES | 4
1622 | RUNNING METRES | 1630
4 | LINE BREAKS | 7
60 | TACKLE BREAKS | 80
MICHAEL ENNIS vs JAKE FRIEND
16 | GAMES | 16
2 | TRIES | 1
582 | TACKLES | 848
9 | TRY ASSISTS | 10
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played: 89 | Roosters: 56 | Sharks: 31 | Draw: 2
LAST FIVE
2015. Sharks DEF Roosters 10-4 | at Remondis Stadium
2015. Sharks DEF Roosters 20-12 | at Allianz Stadium
2014. Sharks DEF Roosters 30-28 | at Allianz Stadium
2014. Roosters DEF Sharks 24-18 | at Remondis Stadium
2013. Sharks DEF Roosters 32-22 | at Remondis Stadium
VERDICT
The Roosters have had to overcome some challenges in 2016, but there will be no greater challenge than facing the red-hot Cronulla Sharks.
If the Roosters are to walk away victorious, it's going to take a physical and patient 80 minute performance against a side that will feel confident on Monday night.
