Gold Coast prop Tino Fa'asuamalaeui and Brisbane counterpart Payne Haas are set to go toe-to-toe and former rugby league hardman Mark 'Spudd' Carroll has some advice for the pair.
"I want Payne and Tino to go out and bash each other," Carroll told AAP ahead of the derby showdown at Robina on Saturday night.
NSW front-rower Haas and Queensland's Fa'asuamaleaui, who first played against each other at school, had a classic confrontation in the 2020 State of Origin series when they were both sin-binned after an explosive melee.
Since then they have been sensational performers in clubland.
Former Australia prop Carroll revealed recently he was likely suffering with CTE (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a brain condition linked to repeated knocks to the head. In Carroll's day there were no concussion protocols like there are now.
"You don't give away penalties for hitting anyone too hard. I want you to get that down on paper," Carroll, who won the 1996 premiership with Manly, and not suggesting either prop do anything illegal, said.
"I want these two guys to go at each as hard as they can ... like Jake Trbojevic does for Manly. He is the best tackler I have seen since Steve Menzies.
"Our game now compared to the game we played ... these days they play in linen gloves."
Fa'asuamaleaui regards Haas as the benchmark.
"That (2020) Origin moment was three years ago but that is footy. It is an aggressive sport," he told AAP.
"I love it. He loves it. Payne is definitely the best prop in the game. We have a lot of respect for each other.
"I don't go out to target him but in footy you go as hard as you can. That is the way I play. It is the way he plays."
While playing for the Sea Eagles, Carroll famously had blockbusting battles with Newcastle's Paul 'The Chief' Harragon. He once collided with Harragon, stood over him and exclaimed, 'You are my prey'.
"I put a circle around the date I played 'The Chief' every time I played him," Carroll said.
"I am sure (Haas and Fa'asuamaleaui) are mates but you put that to the side when you are playing for your badge ... your team. It is about confrontation."
Carroll said Haas was the best prop in the game and "by a long way".
"Payne always lands on his elbows, never on his back. Week-in and week-out he does 20 hit-ups, runs 150m and scores tries ... makes tackle breaks and does offloads," he said.
"My God, he has gone to a new level, but I love Tino too. He has come back from playing for Australia (at the World Cup) a better player. Whoever does the better hit-ups and run metres between those two will win the game.
"I have a high regard for both of them and I wish them all the best."
Brisbane are on top of the NRL ladder but the Titans will join them on 10 competition points with a win.
