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AAP
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Scott Bailey

Mitchell will rise for grudge game: Souths

South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou expects Latrell Mitchell to fire up against the Sydney Roosters. (AAP)

Cometh the hour, cometh Latrell Mitchell.

South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou is in no doubt Mitchell will rise to the occasion as his players prepare for Friday night's grudge match against the Sydney Roosters.

Six months of talk will finally end when Mitchell comes face to face with his old Roosters teammates for the first time since his high hit on Joey Manu last year.

Both teams have made a point to downplay the potential fireworks at Accor Stadium, after both matches last year featured ugly scenes and sin-bins.

But there is still a feeling the game could explode, after clear ill-feeling between players in the lead up to their first game last year and on-field emotion boiled over at Suncorp Stadium last August.

And with the 116-year rivalry between the two foundation clubs, Demetriou expects his players to be wound up come kick off.

"They will be, for sure," Demetriou said.

"There's no doubt about that. This is a big game and has been for a long time.

"I think it's everything, the media attention, the friends who are supporters of the club that get excited through the week.

"It's their families that get really excited about the game. There's past things that have happened in the game."

Demetriou is also happy the headline clash comes now, hoping it can spark their season after a winless start.

"This is a game that comes at the right time," he said.

"I don't need to motivate or go into the emotional side of things. We know what this game means. We've proven that over the last few years.

"I could feel a sense on Tuesday when we got to training that the boys were excited about this round."

Nor is the rookie coach worried about any extra pressure applied on 24-year-old Mitchell, with players having spoken all week about his maturity meaning he can cope with the emotion.

"Latrell is gonna go after it," Demetriou said.

"That's what he loves.

"The bigger the game the better he'll play and I'm excited to see what he does tomorrow night."

The Roosters know as well as anyone how Mitchell handles the spotlight.

Their players have this week admitted they got it wrong in round three last year against Souths, letting emotion get the better of them when they called out Jai Arrow pre-match for roughing up a concussed James Tedesco in Origin.

And they are no doubt wary of the way Mitchell is spurred on by his passion in big games.

"He thrives on these moments," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said of Mitchell.

"I've seen it since he was a kid. He enjoys these contests.

"He uses his motivation in a way to get him ready for these games. So I expect no different, we expect him at his best."

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