Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has laid down the challenge to his big men - win us Saturday's blockbuster against the Sydney Roosters and a top four spot.
Flanagan delivered a message to his forwards ahead of the high-stakes clash at Southern Cross Group Stadium, praising Roosters' props Dylan Napa and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
In a thinly veiled attempt to stir his troops, he then described his starting middle forwards Matt Prior, Andrew Fifita and Paul Gallen as the side's linchpins.
The defending premiers will climb as high as third with a win and drop as low as sixth with a loss.
The game will feature big match-ups all over the park including Roosters playmaker Mitchell Pearce coming up against his NSW Origin teammate James Maloney.
But with Flanagan's side's hopes of earning a second bite at the cherry during the finals on the line, he said it was his big boppers who will decide the result.
"I think (Maloney and Pearce) are going to have a major input into the result but I think if we start well and Matty Prior, Andrew and Gal are the ones that are going to decide the result for me," Flangan said.
"They get over their opposition, we win."
Cronulla are close to full strength and expect to have centre Jack Bird (shoulder) back for their final round clash against Newcastle next week.
The Sharks have had the wood over the Roosters for the last three years having won their past six match ups.
The Roosters haven't beaten the Shire boys since round seven in 2014 and earlier this year were humiliated 44-12 at the hands of the Sharks on the Central Coast.
Trent Robinson's men are, likewise, playing a game of snakes and ladders and with a loss could be leapfrogged by the Sharks, which would put them in danger of missing the top four.
On the flip side they could jump into second by avoiding defeat after Brisbane's upset flogging at the hands of Parramatta on Thursday night.
Asked about whether they needed to finish top two, which would guarantee them a home final in the first week, Robinson said: "It's important and it's not.
"It's all about your mindset.
"Obviously there is an advantage to play at home but if you're worried about that you're in some trouble."
STATS THAT MATTER
* The Roosters have won nine games this season by six points or less - an equal club record.
* Trent Robinson's side have won just three of their past eight away matches.
* Cronulla have the worst completion rate in the league, completing at just 73.4 per cent.
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