The battle between the left wingers and openside flankers will be front of mind for Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt as the Western Force host the Queensland Reds on Saturday night.
That's the opinion of former Test stars Tim Horan and Cameron Shepherd as they previewed the big Australian Super Rugby Pacific derby on Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven.
The Force's 2-0 start to the season has been one of the competition's early talking points and Simon Cron's squad sat second on the standings before round three kicked off.
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Filipo Daugunu of the Reds breaks away from the defence. Getty
Left wingers Filipo Daugunu (Reds) and Dylan Pietsch (Force) have hit the ground running and have made an early impact for their teams in both attack and defence.
"Filipo is a really good buy for the Queensland Reds and he's understanding now when to come off his wing and when to stay on his wing at the right time," Queensland legend Horan said.
"Right over the ball, couple of steals every game."
Former Force star Shepherd was similarly impressed.
"Filipo Daugunu, you see so many players kind of reach their potential early and then they never seem to add more things to the bag," Shepherd said.
"He every season – probably the last three – seems to come with new skills, his awareness defensively."
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Ex-Waratahs winger Pietsch, meanwhile, has made a bright start to his Force career with three tries from two games – shaking off the disappointment of an injury that prematurely ended his Spring Tour last year.
"He just hates getting tackled," Shepherd said.
"He looks like he's so desperately trying to evade and stay on his feet and fight for extra metres, and guys like that coming off the wing are so valuable to me."
Dylan Pietsch of the Force heads to the try line to score. Getty
Horan said Pietsch – a former backrower – had a frame and attitude perfectly suited for Test rugby.
"Also the combination that he's already building with Ben Donaldson as a winger," he said.
"You need your fly half to understand when you're out wide, when you're coming off his inside shoulder, so more to come there."
Fraser McReight of the Reds. Getty
Meanwhile, the world class Fraser McReight had a superb season debut for the Reds in last weekend's win over Moana Pasifika.
Barring injury he is a lock to start in the No.7 jersey against the British and Irish Lions – but he now has a capable deputy snapping at his heels in the Force's Carlo Tizzano.
The combative Perth product made 34 tackles without a miss against the ACT Brumbies and has also scored three tries in two games.
Carlo Tizzano of the Force passes the ball. Getty
"34, I reckon that's the most I've seen in a Super Rugby game for a long, long time," Horan said.
"He was outstanding, and for someone to make that amount of tackles but still be over the ball and still be fit enough, that was a wonderful performance."
Shepherd said Tizzano's dirty work was allowing others to shine.
Carlo Tizzano of the Force warms up. Getty
"Elephant in the room, it takes so much pressure off your inside backs," he said.
"If Donaldson and (Hamish) Stewart are making less tackles, it means they're off their feet for less time, helps them in organisation, like you can't understate how important that is."
Western Force vs Queensland Reds
SAT 1 March: HBF Park, Perth (7.35pm kickoff AEDT)
FORCE (1-15): Marley Pearce, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain, Sam Carter, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Reed Prinsep (co-c), Nic White (co-c), Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Reesjan Pasitoa, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Ryan Coxon, Atu Moli, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Will Harris, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, George Poolman
REDS (1-15): Sef Fa'agase, Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Ryan Smith, Angus Blyth, Seru Uru, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (c), Tom Lynagh, Filipo Daugunu, Dre Pakeho, Josh Flook, Lachie Anderson, Heremaia Murray
Replacements: Josh Nasser, George Blake, Massimo De Lutiis, Josh Canham, Liam Wright, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tim Ryan
Referee: Nic Berry