If there were any question marks over Brett Finchs ability as a top-line playmaker, they were swept away as he tore the Warriors to shreds last Sunday.
And this week his opposite number, Brent Sherwin, is about to discover the extent of Finchs progress.
Statistically, Finch is blowing Sherwin off the park this season. The Roosters No.7 has twice as many tries, twice as many try assists, almost twice as many line breaks, four times as many line break assists and makes half as many errors.
To rub salt into the wounds, Finch has broken 30 tackles to Sherwins seven, which underlines the greater penetration in Finchs game.
The biggest improvement is his vision and patience. Finch doesnt force play like he used to; he is now more proficient at thinking one or two plays ahead and creating opportunities, which is why he is behind only Brett Kimmorley for most try assists.
Finch is also assuming more of the attacking reins, with Brad Fittler stepping back and picking his mark.
Sherwin does not play as directly as Finch, who will go to the line and look for an inside ball to hit flyers like Anthony Minichiello and Chris Walker.
The Bulldogs halfback likes to run on the back of an offload or when there is unstructured play, such as a loose pass hitting the ground. But largely he drifts across field, looking to hit hole runners like Willie Tonga or grubber kick behind the line for his wingers Hazem El Masri and Jamaal Lolesi.
Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes has spoken with Sherwin and his scrumbase partner Braith Anasta about the need to straighten up.
The best teams have halves who take on the line and thats what Brent and Braith need to do more of, said Folkes.
Privately, the Roosters believe the Bulldogs are suspect up the middle of the park.
So dont be surprised to see Finch and Fittler play to the edges, then work the Dogs on their inside shoulder by turning the ball back inside for Walker and Minichello.
Walker scored twice against the Dogs in the finals last year running onto inside balls.
In defence, the Dogs are suspect. Most of their forwards have questioned marks over their lateral movements chiefly Mark OMeley, Steve Price and Willie Mason, so expect the Roosters to play up-tempo to exhaust the Bulldogs forwards.
And they dont win the ruck like the Roosters. This season, the Roosters have completed 232 dominant tackles to the Bulldogs 137 and they have put on 57 big hits to just 24.
It means the Roosters are infinitely better at slowing the play-the-ball.
Its vital the Bulldogs, who have conceded a staggering 70 points in the past fortnight, start well.
The Roosters have conceded just one first half try in the past five weeks, so if the Bulldogs can strike first blood, it will put the Roosters on the back foot.
But keeping them there is the challenge.
