Boom Parramatta five-eighth Daniel Mortimer has declared his 100 percent commitment to the Eels' cause in 2010, but is still giving no guarantee he'll remain in blue and gold beyond this season.
Canterbury has made no secret it wants the 20-year-old to return 'home' to the place where his father and uncles played in the 1970s and 80s when the Dogs were known as 'The Family Club'.
The tug-o-war between Parramatta and Canterbury over Mortimer will only intensify over the coming weeks, with the gifted pivot unlikely to make a decision on his future until the season has kicked off.
Mortimer, who is awaiting an official offer from the Bulldogs, has not ruled out a move either way but said on Monday: "I've been here since I was 16 (and) I'm very committed to the club."
"If I did go (to another club) I'd play out the year as best I could because I've still got to earn a jersey for the next year."
That last comment will hardly leave Eels fans feeling super confident the club will retain Mortimer.
But coach Daniel Anderson is unfazed over all the speculation.
"We want him to stay. If he wants to stay then he will," Anderson said.
"I don't find it distracting. Hopefully he's comfortable with how it's going because obviously he's the bloke in the centre of the storm, if there is one."
Mortimer denies the contract talk is affecting him and will take his time making a decision, even if means dragging the saga out until after the competition has started.
"I won't rush my decision. I'll know in the next few weeks what the right decision is and I'll make it, but I'm not in any real rush at the moment," he said.
"I'd be silly not to look at both offers so once I do I'll have a big decision to make."
Mortimer will be rested from Parramatta's final trial against the Roosters after receiving 10 stitches to a head wound sustained in the loss to Penrith on Saturday night.