New Zealand Warrior Manu Vatuvei might just as well be talking about himself when discussing how to contain fellow giant winger Wendell Sailor.
The pair go head-to-head in one of the feature match-ups of the Warriors' National Rugby League clash with St George Illawarra in Wollongong on Sunday.
"You have
to try to stop him before he gets his momentum," Vatuvei said.
"You can't let him get running and then try to stop him after that, because it's really hard to stop a guy that big."
It will be the first time that Vatuvei, 23, and Sailor, 34, have marked each other, having been on opposites sides of the field when the Dragons won 34-6 at Win Stadium last year.
Vatuvei didn't get on the scoresheet that day, but is on a hot streak for the Warriors, with 20 tries from his past 21 appearances.
That tally includes three in two matches since he returned from a three-week layoff with knee ligament damage, and he is just one short of 50 for his NRL career.
The Warriors, in ninth spot, go in as underdogs against the Dragons, whom master coach Wayne Bennett has guided to third on the table.
The teams had contrasting fortunes on Anzac Day.
The Warriors battled to a heart-stopping 14-14 draw with Melbourne, coming back from 14-6 down and getting to within a goalpost's width of winning via a Stacey Jones field goal attempt.
The Dragons, meanwhile, cruised to a 29-0 whitewash over the Sydney Roosters in a match that Sailor missed with a hamstring injury.
Coach Ivan Cleary said the Warriors had come through their second successive extra-time match in good physical and mental condition.
The players had been buoyed by their performance against the Storm and knew they had a bye to look forward to next week.
With the season about a third of the way through, Cleary was generally pleased with how the Warriors - who have a 3-1-3 win-draw-loss record - were travelling.
"Obviously we would like a few more wins," he said.
"But all in all, I'm reasonably happy with the team."
The Warriors were also beginning to get players back after having to cope with plenty of injuries in the opening stretch of the campaign.
Among them is Wade McKinnon, who sat two matches out with a hamstring problem, although the feisty fullback's return is balanced by the loss of in-form prop Sam Rapira to a chest injury.
Cleary said McKinnon's availability was a boost not just because of his abilities as a player.
"He's just got that personality that's loud and vivacious," he said. "That's a plus."
McKinnon's inclusion means outstanding utility Lance Hohaia moves to the bench.
The Warriors have found the Dragons a tough proposition on the New South Wales south coast.
They haven't won at Wollongong since their 30-20 victory in 1996, when Jones, then 20, was among the tryscorers.
Jones' battle with Jamie Soward in the halves will be another feature of the upcoming contest.
Soward has been in fine touch for the Dragons, his kicking game being particularly impressive.
- NZPA
WHAT: Dragons v Warriors
WHERE: Woollongong Stadium
WHEN: Sunday 4pm (NZT)
