Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has thanked rookie half Jackson Hastings but says captain Mitchell Pearce is back and raring to go for the preliminary final tomorrow night against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.

“Mitch is good. Trained better than what I thought on Monday, got through last night’s session,” Robinson said.

“He’s fit and raring to go.

“Mitch will bring leadership, he’s our main talker. That’s what he does.

“He has given us direction for years. Jackson (Hastings) has done that very well and has made an effort to make sure he took over from ‘Junior’.

“That’s a credit to ‘Jacko’ but Mitch is our talker, our natural talker.”

The Roosters will start as favourites with Pearce starting at half back and Hastings pushed back to the bench.

Winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall has been hampered by a leg injury but will take his place in the team.