KEY POINTS:
SYDNEY - If they're not doing so already, National Rugby League highflyers Melbourne and Manly might want to stop and take a look over their shoulder.
Because September - and with it the Bulldogs - are coming.
Despite the Bulldogs moving into the top four for the first time this season courtesy of last Friday's win over Brisbane, Manly and the Storm continue to dominate premiership favouritism discussions.
But in an ominous warning to the Storm ahead of their match in Sydney on Friday night, Bulldogs prop Mark O'Meley claimed Canterbury were ready to flex their considerable muscle.
"I probably think we don't deserve (the respect) - yet," O'Meley said.
"We know we can play good football but we just haven't been consistent enough yet.
"In saying that we don't really care because we've got a bit of arrogance about us and we know when it's a big game that we always put in a good performance."
Which is exactly why the other teams in contention for the finals may be getting a little nervous.
The Bulldogs haven't been at their best on too many occasions this year.
But when they have - like at Brookvale Oval against the Sea Eagles in round 15 - they have proved almost unstoppable.
That night the Bulldogs pack pulverised their Manly counterparts in a 27-8 win.
The tone was set in the pre-game warmups when Willie Mason and Kiwis international Sonny Bill Williams flattened an unsuspecting Nick Kouparitsas during a tackling drill.
Coach Steve Folkes said his side would need to bring the same intensity over the next six weeks for the Bulldogs to go all the way.
"We need to be in the right frame of mind leading into a game and that's probably what has hurt us on and off this year," Folkes said.
"When we're on mentally we tend to play really well.
"Semifinals - if you can't get on for them or if you can't get on for Friday night (against Melbourne) then there's something wrong."
Doubts remain over Mason's availability for Friday's game, with the Australian test prop still recovering from a dislocated wrist.
Mason has said he is desperate to play, but O'Meley was not unsure whether he would have his running mate by his side.
"His mental state is he wants to play this week but the doctors are probably thinking about his long-term health, so I think he might have another week," O'Meley said.
The Storm received a boost yesterday when Michael Crocker was cleared to play, after the fiery back rower took an early guilty plea after being charged with a careless high tackle.
The Bulldogs need to win both of their remaining matches against the Storm and North Queensland to secure a top four berth and with it home ground advantage in the first week of the finals.
- AAP
