Rugby league legend Steve Roach looms as a secret weapon as the NSW Waratahs strive to turn Leichhardt Oval into their own fortress this year, starting with Friday's clash against the Queensland Reds.
After opening their campaign with a drought-breaking 40-10 win over Fijian Drua at CommBank Stadium, the Waratahs face Australia's defending champion Queensland Reds in a step up at Leichhardt on Friday night.
The Reds showdown marks the first of five games this season for the Waratahs at the long-time spiritual home of the NRL's Wests Tigers.
The only other home game for the Tahs will be at the SCG so it's no surprise coach Darren Coleman is eager to make Leichhardt enemy territory for opposition teams.
"The ground is close (to the crowd) - that grandstand's right on you, the hill's awesome and it's accessible from all over the city," Coleman said of one of Sydney's most boutique ovals.
"I reckon we can turn that into a bit of a fortress."
Enter "Blocker" Roach, the former Balmain, NSW State of Origin and Australian cult hero who Coleman has invited in to the Waratahs' dressing room.
Coleman hopes Roach can offer some inspiration for his young charges and some tips on how to make Leichhardt feel like home while the Sydney Football Stadium is being rebuilt.
In addition to the Reds, the Waratahs will host the Western Force, Hurricanes, Blues and 2021 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman winners the Crusaders at Leichhardt.
"It'd be my dream if we can fill those pubs around Balmain this year and get them rolling in (to Leichhardt)," Coleman said.
"If you get 10 or 12,000, it'll be like when Benny (Elias) and 'Blocker' were playing (for the Tigers)."
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The Waratahs enter the clash against the Reds with momentum, having defeated them a fortnight ago in a trial in Roma.
However, they are refusing to buy into the result, especially given the nature of the trial, which saw both sides forced to wait in darkness for over an hour after a power outage.
"That was a big day up at Roma for us...there are some positives to take out of that game but in terms of set-piece, it's a standalone game in itself," forwards coach Pauli Taumoepeau said.
"This is a different type of mentality and if I'm brutally honest, it wasn’t the best lead up to the game with an hour and a half standing on a field while the lights were out.
"Maybe we just reacted a bit better than they did. We know the lights will be on at Leichhardt. Brad Thorn came out and said we’d won that physical battle (in Roma), so no doubt he’d be saying that can’t happen again.
"It'll be a little bit more of an even battle given the buildup is the same but I think that's as much as we take from that Reds trial.”
