Eels claim Mortimer

Defiant Parramatta chief executive Paul Osborne insists the club won't allow arch-rivals the Bulldogs to poach rising star Daniel Mortimer without a fight, as the talented youngster prepares to face his father's former club for the first time on Saturday night.

The promising Parramatta pivot is rugby-league royalty being the son of Peter Mortimer and nephew to Canterbury legends Steve and Chris.

But in a sight sure to sicken the Bulldogs faithful, the 20-year-old will the lead the Eels into battle when the two clubs resume hostilities at ANZ Stadium.

And Osborne, who replaced long-serving administrator Denis Fitzgerald earlier this month, could not be happier.

"I hope it's very painful for them but we've certainly enjoyed having him and we intend to keep him for a long time and start the new Mortimer tradition," he warned.

The Bulldogs have publicly stated their desire to lure Mortimer back to Belmore when his contract at Parramatta expires at the end of 2010.

But Osborne, who is the man behind Timana Tahu's imminent return to the Eels after a failed stint in rugby union, has other ideas.

"He's (Mortimer) been wonderful for us over the last season and we've still got another year to go so we'll start talking to him soon," he said.

"He's certainly a player of the future (and) comes from a great family. He's got a wonderful work ethic and has been great for us as a club and hopefully he can have a big game against his dad's old team on the weekend."

The man himself, who cites the 1995 grand-final victory over Manly as the moment he became a fully-fledged Bulldogs' supporter, admits feeling mixed emotions heading into the clash.

"It'll be a bit tougher this week having always grown up supporting the Bulldogs, it'll be a bit weird but at the end of the day it's just another game and I'll be out there to do my job," Mortimer said.

Asked if he is expecting any extra treatment during the match the diminutive playmaker predicted the off-field banter from the extended Mortimer clan would outweigh anything opposition players could muster.

"Being a rookie I cop a bit anyway but I think I might get dished up a bit more, if not by the players by the family after the game - there'll always be a bit of niggle there I think," he said.

"I think they're (his family) all coming to the game to support me so I'm hoping they'll be happy however we play. It'll be good to catch up with them after the game and see what they think," he said.