Reds maestro Quade Cooper reckons he has ironed out his goalkicking kinks, boosting Queensland's hopes of a drought-breaking Super Rugby triumph over New South Wales on Saturday night.
Cooper will headline a long list of Wallabies positional battles, going head-to-head with friend Kurtley Beale in what shapes as a Lang Park blockbuster.
The biggest Australian crowd of the year is expected for the traditional grudge match and Cooper could well square his personal ledger with former schoolboy rival Beale, especially if his kicking radar is working.
The Waratahs have dominated the last six years of interstate battles through a grinding forwards game, repeatedly outmuscling the Reds in what has generally been a series of arm-wrestles.
The Reds this season, however, have surged to the top of the table through a combination of Cooper-inspired attacking flair and a canny field-position game.
But for this match they are prepared to roll up their sleeves for a tight battle of attrition if neither side allows the contest to open up.
Penalty goals and drop kicks could well be decisive and a Queensland win would virtually seal top spot in the Australian conference.
"Goalkicking is definitely important and that's shown in some of our wins, some of them have come off the back of successful goalkicking," Cooper said.
The Wallaby five-eighth, who has worked long and hard to eradicate his natural hook, kicked the Reds to their best win of the year with five from six against the Stormers in Cape Town two weeks ago.
But then he struggled for accuracy in last week's 39-30 win over the Bulls.
"I've got my massive curl out of my kick and that's what I've been aiming towards, and I've been kicking them very straight," he said.
"It's just a matter of putting them in the right direction."
Cooper first played opposite Beale in an interstate Under-16 match, but they have not worn the number 10 shirt against each other since their school days which ended with Beale, now the Wallabies full-back, holding a 2-1 advantage.
"It was always tough playing against him and I'd much rather play on his team," he said.
"He's a great player and he's been playing some cracking football over the past two years. It will be an interesting battle."
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie is "interested" to see how they perform, but he believes Cooper has an advantage because he is more experienced at five-eighth.
Cooper's recent eye-catching form has won him four man-of-the-match awards in the Reds' last six wins.
New South Wales mentor Chris Hickey says the Waratahs defence will not focus specifically on containing Cooper and his influential halves partner Will Genia to ensure the likes of Digby Ioane are not given extra line-breaking opportunities.
Genia's battle against Luke Burgess, number eight Scott Higginbotham's contest with the fit-again Wycliff Palu, Ioane's wing showdown with Lachie Turner and the front-row contest will also be strong Wallabies pointers in a World Cup year.
But the most intriguing head-to-head looms at number seven where Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh takes on his former apprentice Beau Robinson, who has revived his career with the Reds.
"It's a big night for both teams, it's a big night for individuals as well," Waugh said.
"It's a big game in the context of the season."
- AAP
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