Canterbury centre Josh Morris does not know if it will be Michael Ennis' close mate Josh Reynolds or the man who stole his No.9 jersey – Michael Lichaa – who will receive the most animated verbal barrage when Ennis plays his former club for the first time on Sunday.
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Regardless on who ends up in the firing line, Canterbury players are bracing themselves for the "menace" to return to Belmore at his witty best when he plays for the Sharks. Morris said he was unsure who would be Ennis' No.1 target.
"Maybe Grub [Reynolds], maybe Michael Lichaa," Morris laughed. "It's going to be interesting. It'll make for a good game."
Centre Tim Lafai expects it to be Reynolds who will engage most with Ennis.
"Any chance he and Josh Reynolds get giving it to each other," Lafai said. "I'm sure there will be niggles in the play the ball. It'll be really interesting.
"He was one of the team clowns when he was here. He is one of those blokes that makes everyone laugh and [is always up to pranks]."
The Bulldogs are mindful of not engaging in a slanging match with their former skipper. Ennis can rattle even the most placid of players and Morris said his team were aware of what their former teammate can do.
"We can't let him put us off," Morris said. "We know what it's like, we know he tries to get under the skin of the opposition. We have to concentrate on what we need to do to win the game.
"He is one of the best of a dying breed [of sledgers] . There aren't too many who do it any more. Finchy [Brett Finch] was one of the best and Mick is right up there. I'll be expecting to hear a couple from him. He and Grub will go at it a fair bit because they are such close mates. It'll make for an interesting game."
While the bulk of Canterbury's roster may not have been on the end of an Ennis' spray on the field, Brett Morris has encountered Ennis plenty of times during his nine-year career and said he had been spared a tongue lashing.
"Mick has always been pretty good to me," Brett said. "He doesn't want to rile me up too much in case it goes the other way. You hope you're not on the other end of one of the sledges."
While the Bulldogs players know what to expect from Ennis, they are hopeful the Belmore faithful welcome him with open arms. Morris knows what it is like to receive a lukewarm reception when facing a former club after boos greeted him when he played against St George Illawarra for the first time earlier this year. He said he expected Ennis to receive a positive reception.
"I think he will get a [good] reception," Morris said. "He is a loyal servant and is admired by the fans and the players. I'm sure there won't be any booing. Everyone knows what Mick's like – he is a competitor. When he plays for you he loves playing with you and when he plays against him he hates playing against him. The fans will give him the reception he deserves."
