Craig Fitzgibbon is adamant Cronulla's run into the NRL finals won't leave the Sharks short come September despite having the softest finish to a regular season of any top-eight side in 13 years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Sharks' clash with an injury-ravaged Manly on Saturday is symbolic of their last month of football, with the Sea Eagles' finals hopes now over after last week's loss to Gold Coast.
Cronulla have suffered a minor blow on the eve of the match, with stand-in fullback Kade Dykes ruled out with a calf injury and Lachie Miller to move to the back.
Matt Moylan (quad) and Connor Tracey (concussion) have both been cleared to return, while Fitzgibbon hopes centre Siosifa Talakai will return next week from a shoulder issue.
A win on Saturday will all but wrap up a top-four spot for the Sharks, but there are questions over the ideal build-up to finals.
Every other top-eight team will enter September battle-hardened, with at least three matches against fellow finals-bound rivals.
With upcoming matches against lowly Canterbury and Newcastle, Cronulla in contrast have none, with round 21 rivals St George Illawarra the last side they face with anything to play for.
Regardless, Fitzgibbon was confident his team would benefit from a different challenge.
"I know teams might not be trying to play in the semi finals but they're dangerous," Fitzgibbon said.
"They're freeing up, they're excited about next year. Some guys might be fighting for contracts. Some guys are trying to prove they're in the team next year.
"It happens most weeks, you're asked about who you're playing, you just can't afford not to turn up, irrespective of who is in front of us.
"So I try not to buy into that too much."
An analysis of finalists in the NRL era shows that the Sharks style run home is rare, with Canterbury's 2009 team the last to play finals with a similar record.
On that occasion, the Bulldogs won through the first week but were shocked by a red-hot Parramatta after a week off in the preliminary final.
Of all premiers, only Brisbane in 1998 have won the title without a finals-bound opponent in their last five matches.
And on average, the eventual champions have played two-fellow contenders in the run home.
But Fitzgibbon said the Sharks' own focus was on fine-tuning their game for finals, regardless of opponent.
"You know what the semi-finals football looks like," he said.
"The pressure situation makes the intensity rise. You're always working on parts of your game.
"You're never entirely happy, but you also want to play a style of footy that will hold its gloves up in a semi as well.
"You want to feel like you're confident, feel like you're playing strongly and you're ready for it."
Australian Associated Press
