Only one of them can have the Canberra Raiders' No.7 jersey, but halfback contender Mitch Cornish says it won't strain his relationship with Sam Williams.
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The pair are jostling for the starting halfback position a month out from the Raiders' NRL season opener against the Cronulla Sharks on March 8.
Cornish and Williams put in strong performances playing alongside each other in Saturday night's 32-30 trial win against the Melbourne Storm in Griffith.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart will have a tough choice to make about who will partner Wests Tigers recruit Blake Austin in the halves for his team's final trial against the Newcastle Knights at Seiffert Oval on February 21.
Cornish played the final five games of last season, including starting at halfback in the last two, while Williams has returned after stints with St George Illawarra and Catalans Dragons in the Super league.
"We weren't going out to compete against each other, we were just going to play our game of footy and try to get across the line, which we ended up doing," Cornish said.
"We're good mates, but you try to compete for the spot, that's the main thing we look at it like.
"He's achieved quite a bit in his young career and it's good for me, we're good mates.
"I'd rather have him than someone I didn't like so much."
Cornish set up the first two tries for the Raiders against the Storm, sliding across the field and throwing a nice pass for Haydon Hodge to score.
Williams chipped across field to set up a try to second-rower Patrick Mago before going over off a deflected grubber kick late in the game.
Cornish handled the majority of the kicking duties when he was partnered alongside Williams.
It's an area of his game he identified during the off-season that he needed to improve in, working closely with Stuart to build up his range and decision making.
"That was probably one of the biggest things I had to work on," Cornish said.
"I was never a natural kicker of the footy, I had to work pretty hard to try and get it right.
"[Stuart] was a good kicker so he's been massive for me there.
"It's more just your technique of the footy and your positional kick.
"He's very good to know what kick to put when and that's a big thing you have to recognise."
Apart from captain Jarrod Croker and outside back Jack Wighton, who will turn out at the NRL All Stars game on the Gold Coast on Friday night, the rest of the Raiders squad won't be in action until the trial with the Knights.
The Raiders are expected to field a near full-strength team, giving fans the first chance to see new recruits Austin, Sia Soliola, Josh Hodgson and Frank-Paul Nuuausala.
Cornish predicted Austin would add plenty to the Raiders in attack after Anthony Milford's departure to the Broncos.
"He was one of the Tigers best last year and brings that X-factor back to the Raiders," Cornish said.
"We lost Milford with a bit of X-factor.
"Austin definitely steps up in that department."
