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Penrith livewire Michael Jennings has paid Shaun Kenny-Dowall the ultimate compliment ahead of their hyped battle on Saturday, declaring his Roosters' opposite the best centre in the NRL.
Jennings has been one of the competition's most damaging players for two seasons, but said Kenny-Dowall's 21 tries this year have him top of the pops.
The NSW centre was disappointed with his own performance in the Panthers' 24-22 loss to Canberra last week, but matching up against the in-form Kiwi star has him primed.
"He's been in top form and ... I would say he's number one," admitted Jennings.
"I was disappointed (last week), it wasn't one of my best games but I'm looking forward to turning it around and doing what I do best.
"He's been playing great footy and he's in great form so it's going to be a good match up but I'm just going to concentrate on my own performance and it's a team performance.
"It's going to be more work out there for our edge defenders but I guess we're going to have to wait until the game."
Against the Raiders, Jennings didn't get the quality ball he's been used to and is hoping he can get some room to move against the Roosters' rock-solid defence.
"It was just one of those games where you don't get enough ball or enough clean ball or no ball at all so it was frustrating and disappointing but I just have to work on it this week," he said.
"Our forward pack have just got to do the job up front and I guess the little opportunities will come after that."
Panthers' team-mate Adrian Purtell said he's looking forward to watching Jennings and Kenny-Dowall engage in their battle of speed.
"You like to see the best players in the game go up against each other and he's had a great year and Jenko's one of the best players as well so it should be a good clash," he said.
Roosters forward Nate Myles said Kenny-Dowall was the Bondi club's hero after scoring the scintillating match-winner against the Wests Tigers last week.
"We wouldn't be here without him ... the way Skiddy is going at the moment is just awesome for us," Myles said.
"To see them go at each other ... is a terrific battle, they're both terrific players."
Jennings has been one of the competition's most damaging players for two seasons, but said Kenny-Dowall's 21 tries this year have him top of the pops.
The NSW centre was disappointed with his own performance in the Panthers' 24-22 loss to Canberra last week, but matching up against the in-form Kiwi star has him primed.
"He's been in top form and ... I would say he's number one," admitted Jennings.
"I was disappointed (last week), it wasn't one of my best games but I'm looking forward to turning it around and doing what I do best.
"He's been playing great footy and he's in great form so it's going to be a good match up but I'm just going to concentrate on my own performance and it's a team performance.
"It's going to be more work out there for our edge defenders but I guess we're going to have to wait until the game."
Against the Raiders, Jennings didn't get the quality ball he's been used to and is hoping he can get some room to move against the Roosters' rock-solid defence.
"It was just one of those games where you don't get enough ball or enough clean ball or no ball at all so it was frustrating and disappointing but I just have to work on it this week," he said.
"Our forward pack have just got to do the job up front and I guess the little opportunities will come after that."
Panthers' team-mate Adrian Purtell said he's looking forward to watching Jennings and Kenny-Dowall engage in their battle of speed.
"You like to see the best players in the game go up against each other and he's had a great year and Jenko's one of the best players as well so it should be a good clash," he said.
Roosters forward Nate Myles said Kenny-Dowall was the Bondi club's hero after scoring the scintillating match-winner against the Wests Tigers last week.
"We wouldn't be here without him ... the way Skiddy is going at the moment is just awesome for us," Myles said.
"To see them go at each other ... is a terrific battle, they're both terrific players."
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