Latrell Mitchell, Josh Dugan centre duel a battle for the ages, says Roosters winger Blake Ferguson

LATRELL Mitchell and Josh Dugan will battle for more than bragging rights in Saturday’s NRL qualifying final. The winner will strike a blow in the race to partner Greg Inglis for the Kangaroos.

Latrell Mitchell is all smiles during a Roosters training session. Picture: Brett Costello

GET your popcorn ready and prepare yourself for a cracker.

Latrell Mitchell and Josh Dugan are set to headline Saturday’s NRL qualifying final between the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla, with more than just a preliminary final on the line.

The winner of the individual battle will strike a blow in the race to partner Greg Inglis in the centres for Australia’s two post-season Tests against New Zealand and Tonga.

Form fullbacks Valentine Holmes and James Tedesco will also have a mouth-watering match-up.

And both sides have representative forward packs that will run out on to Allianz Stadium ready to rip in.

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Latrell Mitchell is all smiles during a Roosters training session. Picture: Brett Costello

Roosters winger Blake Ferguson said the contest between his close mate Dugan and star teammate Mitchell would have fans flocking to the ground or glued to TV screens.

“It’ll be a good battle to watch,’’ he said. “If I wasn’t playing in the game I’d be looking forward to watching that. Both are world-class players. It’ll be an intriguing battle. If I was in the audience I’d be loving that battle.”

Ferguson, who has been one of the form players this year, said he still had another gear to find during the finals.

He is leading the competition for metres run and hasn’t missed a game. But, remarkably, he said his body was still “feeling pretty fresh for this time of the year”.

Mitchell has been unstoppable since his Origin debut. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Tricolours hooker Jake Friend said the level of consistency the winger had produced weekly was a result of the work ethic with which he has approached his final season at the club.

“He doesn’t whinge during the week,’’ Friend said.

“He trains and gets ready and turns up every weekend.

“Watching him in games, it is incredible to see what he’s doing. Some of the metres he’s getting and they’re not easy runs.

Blake Ferguson has been in career best form. Picture: Brett Costello

“They’re tough runs into big blokes and he’s been doing it week in, week out. You can have a game off here and there when you’re playing that well but he just hasn’t. He just keeps doing it.”

After a career dotted with controversy, Ferguson has turned his life around off the field and is as grounded as he’s ever been.

“I have just been enjoying playing footy again,’’ he said. “I know I’m starting to get older. I’m 28, I’m not 21 anymore, so I have to try and make the most of every game now.”

The realisation that his time as an NRL player was limited was one of the reasons he decided to make the switch to Parramatta next year.

Ferguson says he has what it takes to help turn the Eels’ on field fortunes around after a disappointing season, which resulted in Brad Arthur’s mean picking up the wooden spoon.

“I made a decision to move on and it’ll be good,” he said.

“I’m moving on to become a leader and I feel like I can help a few players over there with my knowledge and what I have learned over the last decade that I have been playing. It’s a new challenge.”

Originally published as Latrell Mitchell, Josh Dugan centre duel a battle for the ages, says Roosters winger Blake Ferguson