Wests Tigers fullback Moses Mbye has rubbished suggestions St George Illawarra are choking, fearing playing them back into form.
The Tigers have a chance to deliver a body blow to the Dragons' season - and take a big step towards a top eight appearance - when they clash at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The Dragons are once again being branded the "May premiers" after another worrying late season fadeout which has seen them lose five of their last six.
Over the previous three seasons the Dragons won just four of their final 12 regular round matches on each occasion, leading to questions about coach Paul McGregor.
Should they lose their final three games, the Red V will for the fourth season running end the year with a 4-8 run.
Mbye said the fifth-placed Dragons were just one game away from bouncing back and said it was harsh to label them chokers.
"They're all a quality side - they're full of internationals, they've got Origin players," Mbye said.
"They've got it all, they can score points, they can defend points.
"That's sometimes the consequence of having a good year, you put yourself up there as the hunted.
"They're one win from dropping the chokers tag and we don't really want to play them into confidence."
The Tigers are sitting in ninth and clinging onto their finals prospects and hooker Robbie Farah said they envied the Dragons' position on ladder.
"I think it (calling the Dragons chokers) is very harsh to be honest," Farah said.
"It's been a bit of a trend for them in the last couple of years but they don't go out there to lose and to choke.
"They're still a quality team and they're in a better position than us at the moment. I'd swap where they are for where we are, that's for sure.
"Everyone's writing them off a bit too soon."
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