Two former NRL apprentices will find out who's the master when former Penrith assistants Andrew Webster and Cameron Ciraldo coach against each other for the first time.
Webster's Warriors and Ciraldo's Bulldogs will take promising 2-1 records into their clash on Sunday in Auckland.
They worked together when Penrith enjoyed premiership success under Ivan Cleary, and Webster is full of praise for Ciraldo.
"He's obviously doing a really good job (at the Bulldogs)," Webster said during the week.
"He's got them going really well. They're full of energy and excitement, so really happy for him and the way the Dogs are going.
"We know we're going to have to be ready and you can see how fundamentally good they are at the moment."
Ciraldo described the Warriors' play so far as "brilliant", adding the NZ team's recruitment in the off season had improved the side.
"I think Te Maire Martin is a really classy player and they're a much-improved team. They'll be excited to get back to Mt Smart. It's a big game for us," he said.
Webster and Ciraldo enjoy more wins after three games than their former mentor Cleary, after Penrith lost a golden-point thriller to Parramatta on Thursday night.
But Cleary, a former Warriors player, is looking forward to seeing what happens when Webster and Ciraldo meet at Mt Smart Stadium.
"I will be sitting back enjoying that game," he said.
"As an old Warrior, I can't wait to see them back at Mount Smart. The fact that there's a lot of optimism over there at the moment that's going to be awesome."
The early season buzz around the Warriors isn't just restricted to the fans. Veteran halfback Shaun Johnson was happy to point out the off-field aspects Webster has implemented.
"I don't know if I can pinpoint one thing. The culture he's brought in and things he's implemented away from the footy field has been the most impressive in my eyes," Johnson said.
"He's got the boys connected away from footy, he always encourages us to get together and socialise and buy into anything we want to do.
"When it comes to training he's very tactical, he's come from an environment that has had a lot of success, so he knows what that looks like.
"For us to understand that and drive what he wants, that's when it all comes together."
There are similarities in Webster's coaching style to Ciraldo's, which the Warriors boss noted.
"I remember watching and learning a lot from Cameron, watching the way he operated at Penrith," Webster said.
"He's very thorough, he really knows how to get the players to buy into his message. He's all about the fundamentals and getting those things right."
Webster added the Warriors are trying their best to keep their feet on the ground something fans of the two teams might be finding difficult after the strong starts to the year.
"I can't speak for Dogs fans, but people here didn't think we were going to be two from three," he said.
