FOR the Broncos there are danger signs everywhere.
Sonny Bill Williams and Michael Jennings are hitting their straps and Brisbane is missing Justin Hodges, the one man capable of fighting fire with fire.
The Roosters like their chances so much they spent yesterday's training session fooling around with prop Martin Kennedy's collection of pet snakes.
As far as challenges go, tonight's showdown at Allianz Stadium ranks right up there.
Broncos coach Anthony Griffin yesterday put his men on high alert.
Griffin has deployed defensive specialist David Stagg to strengthen the right side, with he and Matt Gillett to share centre duties, alternating where they stand either side of Scott Prince in the defensive line.
"(Jennings) is a big part of their game," he said. "I'm sure they will come there."
Williams already heads the Roosters in offloads, and his ability to break tackles and get the ball away must be nullified.
Roosters star Sonny Bill Williams is hitting his straps. Picture: Mark Evans
More than half the Brisbane team have not played against Williams, with at least eight Broncos making their first-grade debut after Williams left Canterbury in 2008.
Prop Ben Hannant remembers how destructive Williams can be and once joked the best aspect of the shoulder charge ban was that it arrived at the same time as the Kiwi hitman's return to league.
Hannant said the Broncos knew the Roosters offered plenty of attacking options, not just the obvious SBW and Jennings partnership.
"They're a typical good football side where they've got really big forwards who can roll up the middle and they've got backs who get in and scoot as well," Hannant said.
"When those backs get early ball out wide they're hard to handle as well."
Broncos forward Gillett said communication was the key to Brisbane stopping whatever was thrown at them.
"We're working pretty well together," Gillett said.
UPSCALED: Roosters' Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Martin Kennedy fool with snakes. Picture: Justin Lloyd
"It's all about talk and communication. If I'm not doing that we're not going far. So I'm trying to talk a lot and just doing my part for our team."
While Kennedy does not bring the SBW or Jennings fear factor, the in-form Queensland-bred prop did reveal a lethal streak yesterday.
When he's not putting the bite on opposition forwards, Kennedy is nurturing thousands of native pythons at the Snake Ranch, at Ourimbah on the Central Coast.
He and a business partner bought the unrivalled collection last year from John Weigel, owner of the Australian Reptile Park. They now breed snakes for first-time owners and enthusiasts alike.
"I'm up there every day off, but we've also got five staff employed," Kennedy says.
"People just don't understand them. They think they're this evil animal that's out to get you.
"That's not the case at all.
"As a pet they're fantastic: they don't smell, they don't need a lot of room, they are beautiful to look at and they are interesting when they eat."
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