KEY POINTS:
Coach Ivan Cleary can sense the New Zealand Warriors' belief and momentum building after a month of evading sudden death in the National Rugby League.
The Warriors head to Sydney tomorrow for their latest must-win clash, their preliminary final against favourites Manly on Saturday night, when victory will
book a berth in the grand final.
The Sea Eagles are well rested after having a bye last weekend, just as they did at the same stage last year, when they finished the competition as runners-up to Melbourne.
"They've had a bit of experience of what to do in terms of their preparation over two weeks and I expect them to be absolutely ready," Cleary said.
"Having said that, our self-belief is building and momentum is behind us a little bit."
Back in late June, when the Warriors were languishing near the foot of the table, few would have put money on them being where they are now.
But 10 wins in the past 12 starts have got them tantalisingly close to making just the second grand final appearance in their 13-year history.
Still, it has been life on a knife edge in recent times.
Their margin for error was cut to nil when they were humbled 34-6 by St George-Illawarra in the third-to-last round of the regular season.
Since then, they've beaten Penrith and Parramatta to make the playoffs, and followed up with victories over Melbourne and the Sydney Roosters.
Cleary said the Warriors' rise in fortunes had been built on looking no further than the task immediately at hand.
"We've played four sudden-death games in a row now," he said.
"I can tell you four weeks ago we weren't worrying about anything more than the next week, so it's going to be the same this week."
He said upsetting the Storm in Melbourne - the first time an eighth-ranked team had toppled the No 1 seeds since the present playoff format was introduced a decade ago - had lifted confidence, as had getting past the Roosters.
"The last two games have just added to what we have gradually been building," he said.
"Without doubt the self-belief has improved. You can't buy that sort of thing. We'll go into the game confident we can go well. If we play well, then we're a chance."
However, the Warriors were also respectful of the danger that Manly posed.
Cleary said the threat began from the back, with fullback Brett Stewart.
"If you run through the backline, they've got plenty of strike players - Steven Bell, Jamie Lyon, Matt Orford," he said.
"They've got a very strong, solid forward pack. They've got variety off the bench. They've got plenty."
Cleary also pointed to Manly's work at dummy half, where hooker Matt Ballin had back-up from Heath L'Estrange.
"Matt Ballin's had a really good season for them and he cleans up a lot of what they do," he said.
"He defends well and he's very steady, and L'Estrange has been a real weapon for them coming off the bench."
As a counter, the Warriors had in-form Ian Henderson as starting hooker, with utility Lance Hohaia, relieved of his fullback duties with Wade McKinnon's return from suspension, as support.
Cleary described the acquisition of Henderson, in his first year with the club after a stint in England, as "a real plus".
"Hendo has been improving as the season has gone on," he said.
"Now we have Lance, who can back him up, so hopefully we've got 80 minutes of threat around there."
Sea Eagles
Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson, Steve Bell, Steve Matai, David Williams, Jamie Lyon, Matt Orford (captain), Brent Kite, Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Hall, Glenn Stewart.
Interchange: Heath L'Estrange, Mark Bryant, Jason King, Steve Menzies, Adam Cuthbertson (one to be omitted)
Warriors
Wade McKinnon, Aidan Kirk, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Michael Witt, Nathan Fien, Ruben Wiki, Ian Henderson, Steve Price (captain), Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Micheal Luck.
Interchange: Lance Hohaia, Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Rapira, Grant Rovelli, Logan Swann, Evarn Tuimavave (two to be omitted)
Referee: Shayne Hayne
- NZPA