Angus Crichton has vowed to "welcome" Nathan Cleary back to the NRL, after Penrith declared their halfback a certain starter for their qualifying final.
But the Sydney Roosters second-rower promises it's nothing personal.
Cleary got the final tick of approval on his left shoulder on Wednesday, almost a month after going down against Melbourne in round 24.
The 28-year-old has been subjected to contact training at Penrith for more than a week, and in recent days had NSW Cup players testing out the joint.
But Penrith are well aware he will face more challenging traffic from Crichton and the Roosters on Friday night.
Crichton is regarded as one of the best in the game for targeting opposition halves, having given Daly Cherry-Evans a working over in State of Origin this year.
And asked whether he would take a similar approach with Cleary at BlueBet Stadium, the NSW second-rower indicated it was only natural.
"We'll make sure we welcome him back," Crichton said.
"A lot of game plans in league is big guys running at smaller guys. And Nathan is by no means a smaller guy. He's one of the best defensive halves in the competition.
"Every week, you prepare for it. The back-rower is running at the halfback, that's what happens in every single game.
"So I'll be preparing like I prepare for every other game. It's always my job to try and nullify the opposition's best player. And he's the best player."
Crichton's plan to get at Cleary sets up an all-star battle on that side of the field, with Liam Martin also known for targeting opposition halves.
And the Roosters second-rower said he did not expect to have it all his own way.
"I'm really good mates with Nath, I have so much respect for him as a player and as a person," Crichton said.
"When he's on he's the best player in the comp, no question.
"It's going to be a good battle with myself and Marto and Kez and Nath. They're two really highly-skilled opposition players, and we're looking forward to it."
Cleary is not expected to require pain-killing needles to play, after he first suffered shoulder instability in the pre-season.
But the likes of Roosters prop Spencer Leniu, who spent five years with Cleary at Penrith, believe the halfback will have no issue marking up in defence.
"Every halfback is having nightmares about Gus this year," Leniu said.
"But I am sure Nathan has done everything in his power to be ready for this game.
"I have had front-row seats on how he prepares, and he would not be putting himself in the team if he knew he couldn't tackle Sitili (Tupouniua) or Gus."
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said on Wednesday the club had never considered holding their No.7 back any longer, until their first knockout game of the finals.
A win on Friday night would send the Panthers through to the preliminary finals, potentially giving Cleary another fortnight off if he was kept on ice.
"He's fit, and this was always the plan to play him this week," coach Cleary said.
"The stakes have moved up, and we always want to pick our best team and he is ready this week."
