The players who touch the ball more than anyone else on their respective teams won't be running out for Sunday's grand final, but what impact will that have on the decider?
Canterbury's Michael Ennis (foot) and South Sydney's Issac Luke (suspension) - two of the final few remaining 80-minute hookers in the game - have been denied the chance to play in their first grand finals.
But it's the team that can best fill the hole they leave that could go on to win the title.
According to former premiership-winning hooker Steve Walters, that team is South Sydney.
Walters believes the Rabbitohs are better equipped to handle the loss of Luke than the Bulldogs are to handle the absence of Ennis.
While Apisai Koroisau hasn't played a lot of football in the past month, he's played 13 games this season for South Sydney, including eight consecutive matches in the starting side when Luke was out injured.
The Penrith-bound rake knows the systems and structures in place at South Sydney and also plays a similar game to Luke, which won't disrupt their game plan.
"It's very unusual to have both hookers out, let alone for a grand final, but it presents a great opportunity for the young fellow [Koroisau]," Walters said.
"I don't think Souths will have to change their game plan. He's familiar with all the structures and patterns and while Issac Luke is a top quality player, the fact that the young guy has had some experience playing there this year is a bonus for Souths. In this case it gives Souths an edge there.
"The Bulldogs have had Mick there all season and when you're used to having someone around all the time, things can feel a lot different when that changes.
"But it's better he's ruled out now than if he hurts himself after five minutes in the grand final. At least now they have a week to plan it and organise it. Hookers are so critical to your team."
South Sydney's game plan won't change too much, but Canterbury halfback Trent Hodkinson knows his own game will change without Michael Ennis.
Ennis has played every game for Canterbury this season, albeit one match at halfback during the Origin period, and he's also their skipper
While it's unclear whether Moses Mbye, Reni Maitua, Josh Reynolds or Damien Cook will line up at hooker for Canterbury, Hodkinson is aware that Ennis' expected absence with a broken foot means his game will change.
"I think me and Josh [Reynolds] need to take a bit more leadership on our shoulders and steer the boys around," he said.
"Obviously Mick gets those forwards going out of dummy half. So we need to take that extra weight on our shoulders going into the game.
"It's devastating for Mick. He's been one of our best all season and is a great leader on and off the paddock. For him to go out like that is devastating for him.
"But in saying that, we need to go out there and make him proud and get the win for him and hopefully he'll be pleased."
With Ennis requiring a miracle to play in Sunday's decider against South Sydney, coach Des Hasler still has to appoint a captain for what will be Canterbury's second grand final in three years.
Frank Pritchard is the co-captain, but Trent Hodkinson is the player who addressed the referees in the second half of last Saturday's preliminary final against Penrith when Ennis was off the field.
While Hodkinson hasn't been told who will lead the team out on to ANZ Stadium on Sunday, he believes he isn't the frontrunner for the job.
"Last week Des told me to talk to the referees, but he didn't say you're captain," Hodkinson said. "We've got a leadership group and I think there's a few boys in front of me there.
"I wouldn't expect to get the 'C' next to my name with the other more experienced blokes. It would be amazing if it happened, I wouldn't have thought that something like that could even be possible 12 months ago.
"Des hasn't said anything yet. Franky Pritchard is co-captain and then you have Aiden Tolman, James Graham, Sammy Perrett and Josh Morris in the leadership group, so there are plenty of boys there."
