Outside backyard footy at the family home in Raymond Terrace, Liam and Luke Higgins have only ever really played together on the same team.
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But sibling ties will be put aside at Townson Oval on Sunday afternoon, with the Higgins brothers lining up against each other.
Luke, still at Souths, and Liam, with new club Macquarie, will go head-to-head in the second round fixture and they do so having recently moved back in under the same roof.
"We haven't decided yet whether we should car pool or go separately," Liam told the Newcastle Herald on Friday.
"But it is pretty funny that we're back living together at home at the moment and we're playing against each other."
Dummy-half Liam, 28, said the banter with prop Luke, 22, had been kept to a minimum in the lead up to the clash.
"It's been pretty quiet actually," Liam said.
"We're a pretty competitive family so if anyone gave out a bit of lip and got beat they would cop it a fair bit."
This weekend will mark Liam's first visit back to his former Merewether venue since switching allegiances.
"It will be very different being on the other side this time," he said.
"I'll have to make sure I go into the right sheds."
Liam said he has enjoyed the "change" in scenery at Macquarie, having signed with the Scorpions upon his return to the Hunter region late last year.
It came after the former Manly lower grader ventured north of the state border in 2018 to play with Queensland Cup team the Sunshine Coast Falcons only to suffer a season-ending knee injury that required two lots of surgery, most recently in January.
"It wasn't ideal but everything happens for a reason and I feel freshened up now," Liam said.
Adam Grew returns to Macquarie's bench on Sunday while Souths are unchanged.
All other round two encounters are being held on Saturday.
Lakes maybe without lock Ben Thomas against hosts Cessnock depending on commitments with the Knights' NSW Cup side but the Seagulls score the return of Sam Hibberd from overseas.
Maitland are at home to Central and have named new recruit Matt Allwood on the interchange bench as well as Jarrod Smith, who is set to make his comeback from last year's season ending injury. Marco Delapena is also included in the Pickers' extended squad alongside first-up, man-of-the-match Hayden Grainger.
Kurri Kurri lose Bryden Brown against Western Suburbs at Harker Oval.
