They may have fired some warning shots to light up Saturday’s NRL qualifying final but Parramatta coach Brad Arthur says he has nothing but respect for his Melbourne rival Craig Bellamy.

The pair traded verbal blows over ruck tactics early in the week but both were keen to downplay the exchange in the final stages of the build-up to the AAMI Park clash.

Arthur started his coaching career with Melbourne, firstly in 2009 as the under 20s coach overseeing the likes of Storm forwards Jordan McLean and the Bromwich brothers Jesse and Kenny who won the grand final, and then as an assistant to Bellamy.

“Craig and I are good mates and I don’t forget where it all started for me and I’m appreciative of that,” Arthur said.

“We’ve got the upmost respect for him as a coach and his staff and playing group – they’re the best in the game.

“They’ve got the best tackle systems in the game and we need to find ways to try and allow us to play our own styles of football.”

Arthur said both teams would be out to control the ruck and it was up to his team to try to match the Storm wrestling tactics.

Just as important is ball-control, according to the Eels mentor.

“You can move the ball around and take chances but if you turn the ball over and are only completing at 60 or 70 per cent you give yourself no chance against these blokes,” Arthur said.

“They won’t beat themselves so you need to play some football but you also need to starve them of possession.”