Israel Folau and Henry Speight will be two of the biggest names included in Ewen McKenzie's Wallabies squad for the looming Rugby Championship when it is announced on Wednesday.
But for at least the next four days they are fierce and bitter rivals, both as dangerous in attack as they are reluctant to cede a centimetre on the pitch in Saturday's Super Rugby semi-final between the Waratahs and Brumbies.
Folau was respectful without being effusive when asked to name Speight's strengths on Tuesday, having trained with the Fijian winger during the Wallabies' three-Test series against France last month and come up against him twice already this season.
"He's a good player, very dangerous with the ball and everyone can see that. He's had a good year," the NSW fullback said.
Wallabies and Brumbies great Joe Roff fanned the flames this week with his declaration Speight was just as dangerous as the Waratahs' dual international and Super Rugby's top try scorer.
But the pair may have more in common than meets the eye. In much the same way as Folau prides himself on lifting in big games, Speight's form has also improved the longer the season has worn on and the more pivotal the games have become.
"One of the hallmarks of good players is when the big days are on, they're there," Cheika said of his fullback.
"More often than not, if you look at Israel since he's come to rugby union ... when he's been required by us or by Australia, with only one and a bit years' experience in the game, he has stood up and delivered.
"There's no extra expectation from me, I want him to go out there and enjoy the day, play the best football he possibly can and enjoy it with his teammates."
Folau said he loved the pressure of big games even as a child.
"It's just my mentality as a player, as a young kid I always wanted to play in those big games," he said.
"There's nothing better than going out there and performing at your best, but that's what every player wants to do, give 150 per cent in big games. It's something you train so hard for and that's the fun part about it, you just want to go out there and play the game."
Speight will be included in the Wallabies' Rugby Championship squad alongside what is expected to be an increased number of his ACT teammates.
In a blow to the Wallabies' Bledisloe Cup hopes, the Fijian-born winger will not be available to play for the Test side until September 11, a few days before Australia play Argentina on the Gold Coast.