Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans is eyeing a personal battle with Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce in Friday’s NRL match.

Both teams finished in the bottom quarter of last year’s ladder, but the Roosters are undefeated through the opening month and Manly have been the competition’s form side of the past fortnight.

“I am looking forward to the personal match-up against Mitchell, a NSW halfback, a great player and he’s leading their side really well,” Cherry-Evans said.