It's not quite the circus that surrounded Cooper Cronk's shoulder injury in the lead-up to last year's grand final but Roosters coach Trent Robinson is giving nothing away about Luke Keary's status.
Reports have emerged suggesting Keary is in doubt with a foot injury, while co-captain Jake Friend has been named on an extended bench and is pushing to return from the broken arm that has sidelined him for the past two months.
Robinson said he had already decided the make-up of his side but politely danced around questions over the fitness of Keary and Friend leading into Saturday's SCG preliminary final against Melbourne.
"It's good speculation, we've had it each year, but I'm not going to go into the team," Robinson said.
"... I would-game plan against oppositions knowing different positional changes. It's just logic, really, [to keep things under wraps]."
The Roosters will enter Saturday's stoush with the Storm after a week off but a fortnight of physical training should ensure the premiers aren't rusty.
Robinson pointed to the fact that Cronk, his "protected" halfback, copped a black eye earlier this week as proof the Tricolours haven't eased up.
Roosters v Storm - Preliminary Final
While admitting there's a crucial balance between training hard and keeping players fresh, Robinson believes in the mantra "steel sharpens steel".
"In the end, intensity wins. You have to prepare for a game, so preparing for a game is training with intensity," Robinson said before the clash against the team the Roosters beat in last year's grand final.
"There's risk with that but if you do it enough the risk is reduced. So that's what we continue to do. There's casualties rarely but hopefully the casualties are a black eye - that's a good injury."
The Roosters spent last week fine-tuning their own game - with Robinson giving his men the weekend off - before turning the focus on Melbourne after they flogged Parramatta.
Centres Joey Manu and Latrell Mitchell have led the way in upping the energy and the strike pair's enthusiasm has Robinson "excited".
"They've been at this end of the year quite a lot for young guys through the grades, through under 18s, under 20s, reserve grade, first grade," Robinson said.
"I love the competition between the two of them. I just finished watching them, we finished the session and they're attacking each other again.
"There's a love for each other and then a competition to own the left and right for each of them as well."
Playing at their regular home venue of the Sydney Cricket Ground looms as a minor edge for the Roosters.
Manu hitting straps at right time
Cameron Smith is the only Melbourne player to have experienced the oval-shaped ground - and Robinson conceded it does take some getting used to.
"It is a different track to the normal rectangular field," Robinson said.
"It's a bit like a Formula 1 driver and racing on the track for the first time, or it being your home track and knowing the blind spots ... That's an advantage that we've had."
