Kevin Walters is adamant he can put aside any family ties to pick the most worthy five-eighth, whether or not that's his son Billy, for Brisbane's NRL opener.
Billy Walters will get a golden opportunity to secure the No.6 jersey in Saturday's final pre-season trial against North Queensland in Mackay.
The off-season recruit from Wests Tigers will partner fellow contender Albert Kelly against the Cowboys, with the pair seemingly ahead of Tyson Gamble in the battle for a halves spot alongside captain Adam Reynolds.
Walters and Kelly trained together in the main group on Tuesday.
Hooker Corey Paix will be given a chance to leapfrog Jake Turpin to wear the No.9 against South Sydney in round one, the shock move coming after the former's impressive trial form in the past fortnight.
Whether Walters opts to pick his 28-year-old son is the big question though, and one the coach says he's comfortable with.
"There's a battle on there (for the No.6); I've got some ideas in my head but nothing's over the line ... someone could jump out of the ground (this weekend)," Walters said.
"You take the family side out of it; normally I'm a very fair person and I'll be fair across the board.
"I'm more than capable of making a good decision in that regard.
"We've had those discussions; when he's here he's Billy Walters and when he's not here ... he's my son.
"There's no drama around that, he understands the situation like everyone else that he could be one of the ones that misses out."
A quick look to last year's premiership trophy presentation will show that a father and son can make a successful coach-playmaker pairing.
But Nathan Cleary was already established as an elite halfback before his father Ivan returned to Penrith, while Walters will be anointing an unproven No.6 to partner high-profile recruit Reynolds for the first time.
Paix's lively pre-season form has also pleased Walters, while Tesi Niu's injury has allowed the Broncos to get an early look at Selwyn Cobbo in the No.1 this weekend.
Payne Haas and Jordan Riki will play in Mackay, with 31-year-old Reynolds still on ice.
"We're just resting him this weekend, making sure he's right for round one ... we want him fresh," Walters said of Reynolds, who didn't train with the main group on Tuesday.
"He's got a huge season in front of him."
Meanwhile, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow's move to the No.1 jersey will be completed by the Cowboys, with Valentine Holmes shifting to centre for the Mackay trial.
Jason Taumalolo is the only big-name Cowboy to miss the match, but the club insists he will overcome a hamstring injury for their season opener against Canterbury.
