"We have to maintain that this week. The Bulldogs are coming off a win and are a big, physical side. It's going to be a close encounter and we'll need to be good."
Hasler has prevailed in five of the past eight encounters with his former club but his last return to Brookvale saw the former Manly mentor's side go down 32-10.
However, he got his revenge in the semifinal clash at Allianz Stadium in September when the Bulldogs won 18-17 in golden point and Toovey is expecting another tight encounter and backed his forwards to match up against the Bulldogs' giant pack.
"I think we have the firepower to match their forwards. We play a different style of football to the Bulldogs," he said.
"Dunamis Lui has really stepped up after playing well in his first season and is a year older and wiser as well.
"We've lost a lot of experience over the last few years and Willie has come and done very well for us."
Hasler reckons there are two Manly teams and that is why he's especially wary of tonight's clash.
"You play Manly and then you play Manly at Brookvale, it's two entirely different outlooks as the poor old Melbourne Storm found out last week.
"There's always something special about playing at a ground like Brookvale, hence you can understand the want and the need to save suburban grounds."
In a benevolent mood, often-gruff Hasler handed out apples to the reporters who got out of bed in time to attend his 7.15am media conference at Belmore.
Few, if any, know Manly better than Hasler, who coached the Sea Eagles from 2004-11, claiming premierships in 2004 and 2011.
He "wasn't the least surprised" that Manly were able to overcome the turmoil surrounding star halves Kieran Foran and Cherry-Evans signing for other clubs from next season and topple the Storm at Brookvale last Saturday.
Despite the Bulldogs' strong win over resurgent Parramatta last Friday, Hasler was typically understated about his side's chances of winning back-to-back games, even rating the Sea Eagles' pack - which lost Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart and Jason King in the off-season - as better than his powerhouse unit.
"I think you've got people like Matt Ballin, who's just such an experienced player, you've got Jamie Buhrer and you've got young [Jake] Trbojevic off the bench, the last thing you do is underrate any team but particularly a team like Manly at Brookvale.
"They probably shade us in the forwards, so we'll have to step up and do our best against that side and when you look at their backline it's all class".
The match will be Hasler's fourth return to Brookvale and he claims that any special attention he gets from the crowd is just part of the experience.
"I don't take too much notice of it ... the crowd are pretty good to tell you the truth but that's all part of the action, part of the night," he said.
Hasler refused to comment on the contract situation of his halfback Trent Hodkinson, who's been linked with a return to Manly as a replacement for Cherry-Evans, but did imply that talks were going on to retain him.
"We don't formally discuss contracts with you [the media], no offence, but that's under way".
Sea Eagles v Bulldogs
• 11 of the past 17 matches between these teams have been decided by eight points or fewer.
• Manly have conceded more than 22 points just once in their past 10 matches at Brookvale.
• Canterbury have won 37 from 37 matches since 2012 when scoring more than 20 points.
• Manly are the only team yet to score a second half point this season.
• Bulldogs centre Josh Morris has five tries in his past five matches against Manly at Brookvale.
- AAP
