Rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson says Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce will become one of the greats of the game in a few years time.

The part-time Roosters assistant coach says Pearce has the potential to really flourish in the next couple of years and believes playing the rest of the season without injured skipper Braith Anasta by his side will help fast-track the 20-year-old's development.

"Mitchell Pearce, three years down the track will be right up there with those great names in the game," Beetson told the Sydney Roosters website.

"I hate putting things on people like that but he will be able to lead the team around and again it will be a great learning experience for him and others (to play without Anasta)."

The Roosters currently sit a distant last place on the NRL table ahead of Saturday's must-win clash with Cronulla at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The tricolours have lost six successive games since beating the Sharks 19-12 on May 2, while the Sharks have ridden a four-game winning streak up to 14th place on the table.

Beetson says Saturday's clash is the club's most important game since he arrived at Bondi Junction to help coach Brad Fittler three weeks ago.

"I'm not going to predict the result but they are just as desperate as we are, the only difference is they have won a few in a row and we have lost a few," he said.

"It's the most important game since I've been here because we have made great improvement and we need that win.

"The supporters may feel that this is a nothing game but we don't want to be last."

Pearce meanwhile says the club is determined to fight its way back off the foot of the table, and the young brigade are prepared to dig their heels in and fight.

The one-time NSW halfback says the likes of Tom Symonds and Rohan Ahern are providing a new sense of enthusiasm for the club as they fight to end their losing streak.

"I think the confidence is still there. We have a young side and everyone is just happy to play footy and keep learning," said Pearce.

"We have to just try and keep building combinations ... everyone just has to keep working together and if it's not this year just keep building to the future.

"We have a lot of young guys (in the team) now and that's the way the future is looking. It's going to be a good opportunity to try and build something."

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