As the clock ticked towards High Noon at hot and dry Redcliffe on Monday, two gun No.6 exponents were playing their parts in what could have been a Clint Eastwood western.
Eastwood lookalike - in the form of Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett - was in the saddle and directing proceedings.
Shooting it out for the starting five-eighth position in the round one NRL clash with the Sydney Roosters were six guns Anthony Milford and Isaiya Katoa.
Bennett swapped the pair in and out of the main team line-up throughout a competitive session of more than two hours. Both trained in the right-side playmaking role, with halfback Sean O'Sullivan on the left. Both looked sharp.
There is plenty speculation to suggest the experienced Milford could miss out on selection to the 19-year-old Katoa, who has impressed throughout pre-season.
Dolphins assistant coach Kristian Woolf, who told AAP last week Katoa would be up to the challenge if selected, was keeping his cards close to his chest.
"You'll know when we know," he quipped, with a grin, when asked who had won the battle.
O'Sullivan said after the session he was unsure which of Milford or Katoa would start, but added that either would shine.
"I think we will probably find out tomorrow but I just know whoever gets the job is going to get it done," O'Sullivan said.
"We have full confidence in whoever Wayne puts in.
"Milf is very experienced. Izzy (Katoa) is young and hasn't made his NRL debut. The way we play, the role will suit them both perfectly.
"They are a little bit different. Izzy plays really straight and Milf has got a really good running game and we are really encouraging him to take the line on and get people around him moving onto the footy."
O'Sullivan said he had done enough work with both candidates to be able to gel with either.
The 24-year-old looked slick throwing neat passes to rampaging second-rower Kenny Bromwich.
"Me and Kenny have had eight weeks together and we are talking non-stop and watching video together," O'Sullivan said.
"Kenny has been unreal. He has got so much experience and is teaching me a lot.
"Every single day we are getting better and taking good strides as a team as we build combinations and connections into Sunday."
