The Canberra Raiders concede they must shut down the one that got away to continue their best start to a season in 14 years on Sunday.
Parramatta Eels enforcer Junior Paulo returns to the capital for the first time since he left the Raiders on a four-year deal worth $2.8 million last season.
Canberra (third) and Parramatta (sixth) have resurrected their form this season and hold 3-1 records, having only lost to NRL pacesetters the Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters.
The Eels haven't won at GIO Stadium since 2006 but are riding high on the back of Paulo (117 metres per game), who returned to Parramatta after two-and-a-half seasons in Canberra.
Raiders assistant coach Andrew McFadden admits Paulo has been crucial to Parramatta's early-season success and says the 123-kilogram prop must be stopped.
"Their strong start has probably come on the change of their roster. [Eels coach] Brad Arthur identified they didn't have the physicality last year they've had in the past and they're obviously a lot bigger this year," Arthur said.
"They've got Junior. He's been central to their early-season success so he's going to be a handful.
"They've got a big forward pack, it's not just Junior, they've got young [Oregon] Kaufusi, Kane Evans, [Daniel] Alvaro has put on some size this year, so all and all they're a much bigger team than they were last year.
"The physical battle will be critical. It's a really important game for us, it's a big challenge and we just want to keep the roll going."
Paulo backed himself to get the job done against his old club but said the game wouldn't be about his battle against former teammates.
"As a player it would always be good to get one up on the old club but the main focus will just be about us and what we're looking to do is just find consistency," Paulo said.
"It's going to be a tough challenge this week against the old club but for me it's just another game."
Australian Associated Press
