Mitchell Pearce wants the Knights to make a statement against the Roosters

AS Mitchell Pearce and a trio of former Roosters prepare to return to Sydney for the first time, the NRL could be witnessing the birth of a new rivalry.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SPORT SPECIAL. MUST NOT BE PUBLISHED WITHOUT TALKING TO JAMES SILVER ST SPORTS EDITOR. Former Roosters ... Mitchell Pearce with Knight's team mates Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Connor Watson and Aiden Guerra in Newcastle on the eve of this Sunday's showdown. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

NEWCASTLE halfback Mitchell Pearce believes the Knights can send a statement to the rest of the rugby league world by beating premiership-favourites, the Sydney Roosters.

Pearce could also send an invoice to the NRL.

Such is the anticipation for Sunday’s clash at Allianz Stadium between the former Rooster Pearce and the man that replaced him, Cooper Cronk, club officials are preparing for the biggest-drawing regular-season crowd between the two sides in two decades.

As of Saturday, ticket sales for the 6.30pm showdown were tracking towards a crowd of up to 15,000.

A healthy crowd is expected at Allianz Stadium for the match.

Anything over a crowd of 15,000 would become the biggest crowd to a Rooster-Knights game since 1998 when 15,786 fans watched Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns go head-to-head at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Sunday’s highly-fancied City Slickers v The Underdogs from Steel City is a marketer’s dream, layered thick with storylines.

Newcastle recruits Aiden Guerra, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Connor Watson and Pearce tackle their former club for the first time since departing the Roosters last year.

The foursome are the most number of players from one team to play against their former club the next season since Canterbury’s Michael Ennis, Greg Eastwood, Ben Hannant and David Stagg faced former club Brisbane in 2009.

Four players have made the move from Bondi to Newcastle.

However, it’s the return of Pearce, the Newcastle halfback, up against the Roosters superstar halfback, Cronk, which has been plastered across billboards and flashed across TV screens this week.

Such is the appeal in the duel, Fox Sports — who have scored a guaranteed ratings winner by showing the match exclusively — will devote their pre-game to a special focus on Pearce and Cronk.

Unlike his rival, Pearce — who many Roosters fans still believe was hard done by in the way that he departed the club after 11 years — has refused to shy away from the hype and interest in his return to Bondi.

Mitchell Pearce the Rooster.

Mitchell Pearce the Knight.

The Sunday Telegraph spoke to Pearce in Newcastle on Thursday, where on the back of Newcastle’s unexpected two opening round victories against Manly and Canberra, he spoke of what taking on the Roosters meant.

“I’ve been really pleased with the way the boys have played over the past two weeks, but it’s about building upon that,’’ Pearce said.

“I’m excited to be playing the Roosters, I’ve got so many mates in that side.

“I’m happy to help promote this game because I’m proud of the new mates I now have in this Newcastle side, but you just don't forget the many mates I still have in the Roosters side.

Connor Watson the Rooster.

Connor Watson the Knight.

“You’ll never catch me saying anything untoward about Cooper. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I have no hard feelings whatsoever towards him and in fact, I have huge respect for the player he is.

“He’s one of the best halfbacks in the world and this Roosters side is a quality side. They’re premiership favourites for a reason.

“As a footy side, we need to earn respect — winning certainly helps that and without doubt, if we can get the job done against the Roosters, it would be a huge statement for who we are and who we represent, which is our friends and this town.’’

Aidan Guerra the Rooster.

Aidan Guerra the Knight.

Both the rookie Watson and experienced Guerra also spoke of what returning to Moore Park to tackle their former club meant to both them and the fans.

“I get the hype and I don’t blame the fans and the media getting into it because obviously, there’s a good storyline here,’’ Watson said.

“I’m sure everyone who is a fan, is really looking forward to seeing how this game will turn out.

“I’m really looking forward to it.’’

Guerra — who played 154 NRL games over eight seasons at the Roosters — said he was under no illusion of what to expect.

Shaun Kenny-Dowall the Rooster.

Shaun Kenny-Dowall the Knight.

“I’ve always thought the games that have the most hype bring the best out of a lot of players,’’ Guerra said.

“So we as a side can expect the Roosters to be coming out and be ready to play.

“I don’t think many people expected us to win our first two, but we’ve done it.

“We’ve also made it hard for ourselves (with errors) in both games.

“So to be able to test ourselves against the best team in the competition, will be good for us.’’

Originally published as Mitchell Pearce wants the Knights to make a statement against the Roosters