The Warriors have rescued their NRL season in remarkable fashion over the past two and bit months, but lock Elijah Taylor says they know all the good work could be undone in a flash.
After a dismal start to 2013, the Warriors - on the back of seven wins from their past eight matches - have lifted themselves to ninth on the ladder ahead of a meeting with sixth-placed Cronulla in Auckland on Saturday.
Their 30-22 upset of defending champions Melbourne in front of a bumper 20,000-plus crowd at Mt Smart Stadium last Sunday put them within touching distance of making the top eight for the first time this year, but Taylor is staying grounded.
"The confidence is good in the camp, but it's important we don't get ahead of ourselves," he said.
"This is a vital game. If we lose it, all the hard work will be undone."
Penrith-bound Taylor, used early in the season as stand-in hooker, has been among the Warriors to impress in recent weeks after moving back to his preferred position of lock.
But the 23-year-old Kiwi would rather talk about team mindset, particularly on defence, than his own performance.
"We're working hard for each other and it has showed in our scramble," he said.
"Defence is attitude and defence wins games."
While the Warriors' rebound since mid-May has been notable, so too has Cronulla's ability to keep putting out results despite their off-field dramas involving the ASADA drugs investigation.
With NSW State of Origin reps Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis sidelined but five-eighth Todd Carney in dominant form, the Sharks put paid to Penrith 38-10 last weekend.
While Lewis is still out with a calf problem, influential skipper Gallen will make his return from the foot injury he picked up in Origin II.
Taylor is expecting a bruising encounter up the middle of the park against a pack he rates as particularly physical.
"They also play a lot of footy and they play offload stuff," he said.
"It's hard to defend when they get a roll on."
Cronulla have been convincing winners the past two times the sides have met.
They walloped the Warriors 45-4 in Auckland last August, and won 28-4 at Toyota Stadium in March.
But Taylor isn't one to dwell too much on the past. Those defeats might provide added motivation for some players, but everyone is different.
"To myself, it's just another game of footy," Taylor said.
"It's another game we've got to win."
