Parramatta star Nathan Hindmarsh, the face of rugby league's fight to retain control of Sydney's west, believes AFL can be kept at bay without the need for bloodshed between the codes.
As the AFL continued its aggressive push into western Sydney with a visit by premier Geelong to Greystanes on Wednesday, Hindmarsh took on a conciliatory tone in his first day as strategy co-ordinator for the Western Sydney Academy.
He will spend at least a day a week spreading the rugby league gospel and cutting off AFL at the pass, but is not interested in out and out confrontation with his rivals.
"Everyone says it's a war but I don't think it's a war," Hindmarsh declared.
"AFL's putting a team out there and kids are going to play whatever game they want to play."
But the Eels veteran conceded the entry of Team GWS in the AFL in 2012 will present a massive challenge for rugby league.
"I think it's going to have an impact, kids will want to play the game," he said.
"We do live in Australia where kids love to play sport and I can't see why they won't play AFL."
"There will be a couple of kids that will want to play - there are already kids out there now playing AFL."
"It (Team GWS) will strengthen their claims out west but I think we've got a great product in rugby league that's been around the last 100 years and will remain that way."
Hindmarsh rejects talk he will rugby league's 'saviour' in the west, saying he simply wants to put back something into the game that has given him so much.
"I'm just someone who's stuck his hand up and wants to help out an organisation that's already doing a good job," he explained.
"We just want to make rugby league as fun and as enjoyable as when I played as a kid."
Rookie Wests Tigers centre Blake Ayshford typifies the new breed of youngster the two codes are fighting over.
He dabbled with Australian Rules as a schoolkid but was never going to be lured to the game.
He has seen first-hand the passion for rugby league in Sydney's west but warned the game's leaders not to get complacent or play down the AFL threat.
"I can't see it threatening too much out there but you've always got to look out for it because it can hurt rugby league, especially in the heartland," he said
"I watch a bit of AFL on TV but never really thought about playing it."
"I'm happy in league and I think the game is pretty healthy at the moment."