Daejarn Asi has conceded he is fighting for his future, as the Parramatta half prepares for a vastly-different second showdown with Nathan Cleary.
Asi will face Cleary for the first time since his 2020 NRL debut on Friday night, as one of several Eels off-contract at the end of the year and yet to be signed.
The circumstances around the 23-year-old's match up with Cleary could hardly be any more different to when they first met four years ago.
Back then, Asi appeared to be one of the few shining lights in North Queensland's lacklustre 2020 season when he scored on debut against the Panthers.
In the time since, he has been released by the Cowboys to the Warriors, and then on to the Eels last year where he has spent most of 2024 filling in for Mitch Moses.
But with five weeks to go in the season, Asi said he was yet to meet with incoming coach Jason Ryles and had not heard from the club on whether he would be there in 2025.
"I haven't heard anything, so I've just got to let my footy do the talking and see what happens," Asi told AAP.
"It is a little bit difficult. But I can't let that affect me.
"Because if it affects me, I am the halfback and it affects the team. I have to go into the game with a clear head, control the team and steer the boys around.
"I can't do that with that on my mind."
AAP has been told there have been some enquiries in the NRL over Asi's situation, while the Samoan representative is prepared to move to England to continue his career.
I"'m just looking for the best opportunity to play footy," Asi said.
"I'm not too sure yet, but we'll weigh up the options at the end of the season."
Asi considered last week's win over the Warriors his best 80 minutes of the season, and an upset win over Penrith on Friday night would move Parramatta clear of the wooden spoon.
Matching up well against the Panthers and Cleary will also give Asi the best chance to put himself in the shop window.
The New Zealand junior said he had been too excited about his debut to consider the stature of the opponent he was facing back in 2020, but is keen to challenge himself against Cleary this week.
"He's a world-class player, and every time you get to play against those type of guys, you want to play your best," Asi said.
"It's a big test, for me and the team. He has obviously come back from injury in top form. We have to sort his game out, and hopefully that will lead us to a win."
