Melbourne are on high alert for Cronulla to target their skipper Cameron Smith in their NRL grand final qualifier, simulating the Sharks' ruck tactics at training this week.
The Sharks made their intentions clear early this week with coach Shane Flanagan, saying the way to beat the Storm in Friday night's AAMI Park clash is to "attack their leader".
Cronulla, as well as a soaring penalty count, got under the skin of Smith in their round four match, culminating with the Storm captain being sin-binned for dissent -- the first time-out in his NRL career.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy says the Sharks are welcome to try and unsettle Smith again.
"The Sharks saying they're going to go after Cameron Smith - what else is new?" Bellamy said on Thursday.
"Cameron hasn't played almost 400 NRL game without getting targeted? I reckon he will handle that OK and that will give us a couple of other opportunities in other situations."
While the Storm have long been criticised for their wrestling tactics at the ruck, they believe Sharks are flouting the rules on markers and they have been training this week in preparation.
Rather than standing square immediately in front of the play-the-ball with the second player directly behind, their markers have been standing side by side, which prevents Smith running from dummy half.
Despite reports that their long-time leader had put pen to paper, Smith said this week he and the Storm were still finalising the deal that would see him play on for an 18th season.
The game is the last in Melbourne and dependent on the result could be the final hurrah for superstar fullback Billy Slater.
Bellamy said while the team wanted to send Slater out in his last home game on a winning note, it hadn't been a part of their match focus.
"It's in the back of our minds obviously but we can't go in with that emotion that we are going to do it for Billy," Bellamy said.
"We have to have a clear focus of what we're going to do individually and as as a team but you'd like to think there's going to be a little bit extra for Billy."
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