Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler hopes a focus on his NRL team's poor discipline and a strong return by representative prop Mark O'Meley will have the desired effect against Newcastle on Saturday.

Languishing in second last, the Roosters have won only three of nine NRL matches heading into the Sydney Football Stadium fixture.

Conversely, Newcastle have won six of nine and are sitting in the healthy position of fourth.

O'Meley was rumoured to have fallen out with Fittler and spent a couple of weeks out of first grade before being recalled for Saturday's clash.

Fittler downplayed any suggestion of conflict with the veteran front rower.

"Me and Ogre (O'Meley) have got really open lines of communication," Fittler said on Friday.

"He knows what I need from him and I'm expecting a really good performance tomorrow night."

Fittler said O'Meley, who his rumoured to be a recruitment target of the Knights, needed to be fit and had benefited from a rest.

The Roosters coach has spent much of this week focussing on his team's poor discipline.

They have repeatedly finished on the wrong end of the penalty count this year and conceded nine straight penalties in their last start loss to Melbourne.

"We've got to look at our discipline and that has been our focus this week," Fittler said.

"We haven't won a penalty count for a couple of years I don't think, so we've got to look at it and we've got to look at the reasons why."

Newcastle coach Brian Smith was extremely wary of the Roosters despite their lowly position.

"I think we have seen every week of the season so far that teams on the bottom can beat teams on the top," Smith said.

"If you don't turn up with a really good attitude and a good plan and the discipline to complete the plan, you are going to get beaten.

"The Roosters have got a number of internationals in their team. We are playing on their home ground, so we need to make sure our game is well and truly in order this weekend."

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