Matt Keating, eels 2013, trial v penrith. Picture: Parramatta Eels
Robbie Farah during the Wests Tigers v Penrith Panthers round 2 NRL game at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. Picture: Jonathan Ng
WHEN you play the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval there are three certainties. Number one, there will be a big crowd.
Number two, the home team will play one of their best games of the year.
And three, Tigers No.9 Robbie Farah will be one of the best players on the field.
The Parramatta Eels know that. So does Eels No.9 Matt Keating.
Keating will go head-to-head with the incumbent NSW hooker in what could be the decisive match-up of the game.
"You have to take into account that going back to Leichhardt is a big thing for the Tigers, and they always perform well - so we have to be at their level," he said.
"The Tigers have got a lot of strike, and some very skilful players in their forward pack. They've got some great players right across the board and some great attacking options."
While they both wear the No.9, Keating and Farah have vastly different roles for their team.
For the Tigers, Farah along with Benji Marshall, provides the focal point of their attack and kicking game.
Last week alone Farah set up two tries, made one line break and had three line break assists.
For the Eels, Keating is primarily responsible for plugging up the middle and providing good service to the Eels' attacking guns Chris Sandow and Jarryd Hayne.
With the injury to Nathan Smith, Keating has been playing 80 minutes and is averaging 37 tackles a game.
More importantly, he is yet to concede an error in 160 minutes of footy.
It will come down to which hooker can get his forwards rolling that will ultimately decide who gets the points victory between the two — and most likely the game.