Finals Match-ups: Roosters v Bulldogs

Rick takes a look at some of the key match-ups ahead of tonight's Elimination Semi Final between the Roosters and Canterbury.

Remember you can follow all the action LIVE tonight from 7:55pm with Robert Crosby right here: LIVE MATCH CENTRE.

ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK v BRETT MORRIS

The electric feet of Tuivasa-Sheck up against the big game experience of Morris.

The form of Tuivasa-sheck this year has been nothing short of amazing and he may even make the Dally M counts a lot more interesting than people think. His footwork has been the obvious highlight, but his ball-playing and strength shouldn't be underestimated. Many defenders have made the mistake this year of planting their feet and trying to read which way he's going to step, only for RTS to power straight over the top of them. Whilst his ball-playing on the edges has given the Roosters more options, taking pressure off their halves in the process.

The twin they call B-Moz was an astute pick-up in the off-season, with Coach Des Hasler identifying fullback as a position the Bulldogs needed strengthening in to provide more attacking spark up the middle. Morris has certainly given his team more options but one gets the feeling he hasn't fully unleashed the way his natural speed and strength ensure he can. His try off an inside ball from skipper James Graham last week was just a snippet of what he's capable of from the back. His big match experience will be invaluable, starring in many Origins, Test Matches and Finals campaigns throughout his career.

WHO HAS THE EDGE? You just can't go past the sort of form Tuivasa-Sheck has displayed this year. His dynamic runs coming out of trouble are invaluable and his ability to flip a game on its head could prove the difference.

BLAKE FERGUSON v JOSH MORRIS

The comeback story of the year takes on arguably the best defensive centre in the game.

After suffering an early season injury setback this year, Ferguson returned to the park in Round 14, coincidentally for the start of the Roosters twelve game winning streak. Throughout that stretch he's proven more than a handful for his opposite centres with his brute size and athletic ability giving the chooks even further attacking options. He won't face a bigger task than this week up against Josh Morris, whose defensive skills have managed to bring down the very best attacking players the game has to offer. Ferguson has also had a little less room to move in the absence of Mitchell Pearce in recent weeks and will be hoping young gun Jackson Hastings can get him some clean early ball to give him the chance to fully wind up.

It's no secret now just how highly regarded Josh Morris is as a defensive centre. For years, he's kept the great Greg Inglis relatively quiet at Origin level. It's with the ball in hand that Morris has really hit his straps in recent weeks. Like his brother Brett, he has bucket loads of natural speed and strength that make him a handful to bring to ground when given any sort of room to move. Again the key is early ball, but also look for him to be running off an offload from Frank Pritchard at some stage.

WHO HAS THE EDGE? With Ferguson not getting the same amount of room to move at the moment, Morris should be able to keep his opposite fairly quiet and may just be the man to break the game open for the Bulldogs in attack.

JAMES MALONEY v JOSH REYNOLDS

Two former NSW pivots taking on added responsibility in the absence of their halfbacks.

Since first choice halfback Mitchell Pearce went down in Round 25 against the Broncos, Maloney has guided his team around with total control. His cool head has proven a calming influence on his new halves partner Jackson Hastings. His kicking game has been solid as always and his little dummy keeps defensive lines in two minds constantly. But it's his ability to sum up a situation quickly and give the dynamic duo of Michael Jennings and Daniel Tupou the ball with plenty of room to move that makes him the glue in his teams attack. His one on one defence is always of some concern though and he will need to lift this week with the likes of Reynolds and Josh Jackson sending plenty of traffic his way.

After a roller-coaster ride this year, Reynolds finds himself in the hot seat of being the Bulldogs main man. The steadying influence and the ability to steer the ship pf Trent Hodkinson has been missed more than people realize and it will be up to Reynolds to take control on Friday night. No stranger to big games, he's shown the composure to nail a clutch play with his golden point field goal getting his side over the line last week. His ability to attack a retreating defensive line is up there with the best in the league. Whenever a half break is made, Reynolds is quick to pounce, using his speed and footwork before passing to his supports in a better position.

WHO HAS THE EDGE? This one could go either way. Reynolds has the ability to break a game open and is probably even the man you'd want in a clutch situation. But for his all-round control and game management, Maloney should come out just on top. In a tight match his goal-kicking could also prove the difference in the absence of Hodkinson for the Bulldogs.

BOYD CORDNER v JOSH JACKSON

The future of the NSW back-row go head to head in a bruising match-up.

Coming off the back of a failed Origin campaign this year seems to have driven Cordner to lift his game to another level. Amongst the best hole running back-rowers in the comp and noted as a hard worker across the 80 minutes, he's always proven his worth. It's his lift in intensity in the back half of the year that has really elevated his game. Some of his charges on the left edge where he's running with a lot more gusto has sat defenders on their backsides and given him and his team the bonus of a quick play the ball as a result. His intensity in defence has also lifted. Amongst all the uproar about the shoulder charge crackdown and how the game had supposedly gone soft, Cordner reminded everyone just how tough it is with his cracking front-on hit on Manly's Justin Horo in Round 25. His toughness will be tested more than ever now though. A nasty hip injury sustained last week will see him battle the rest of the year with the aid of painkilling injections.

Also coming out of a failed Origin campaign has been Jackson, who debuted for his state this year and has come out wealthier for his experience. Like his opposite, Jackson gets through plenty of work throughout the 80 minute duration. A handy right foot step means he's more than capable of breaking the line, but he also has the ability to drift back in-field when there's nothing on out wide and pick up support players in the middle to give him team some added punch. His biggest strength is probably his defence, leading the competition for one on one tackles for the majority of the year.

WHO HAS THE EDGE? Not even going to try and split these two. The hard running Cordner up against the bruising defence of Jackson sets up an enthralling battle. Let's just sit back and enjoy the ride.

KANE EVANS v SAM KASIANO

Two heavyweights that rocked the foundations of Allianz Stadium get set for Round 2.

When Sam Kasiano came on for the Bulldogs in their Round 21 match and lifted his team mates back into the contest after trailing early, someone needed to stand up for the Roosters and be counted. That man was young tyro Kane Evans. After receiving some special attention from Kasiano moments earlier, Evans took it upon himself to let the Bulldogs enforcer know his team weren't about to take a backward step, nailing the big man with a now infamous shoulder charge that had the Rugby League world talking for a good month and sending the NRL into a frenzy in the weeks to come. That moment, all be it illegal to the laws of the game, drew a line in the sand for young Evans who now has the confidence to match it with the biggest and baddest going round. Since that game, Evans has always made an impact off the bench both with and without the ball.

One's got to admire the way Kasiano reacted to that hit. Not really concerned with it being an illegal tackle, he got up smiling, almost in admiration for his young opponents accomplishments. Make no mistake though, he would've put that one firmly in the memory bank and will be hell bent on a square up when Evans comes charging his way tonight, all within the rules of course. Apart from his brute force, size and strength, Kasiano also can lay claim to being the biggest halfback in the history of the game. His ability to lay on a subtle ball before the line would have some of the top halves in the game envious at times.

WHO HAS THE EDGE? Both of these big boppers will be hungry and no doubt come together with some big hits at some stage. Coach Hasler would have had a quiet word with Kasiano about playing smart though and it may just be the tonic for a peach of a ball from Kasiano to break the game open.