Manly will limp into the latest edition of their famous rivalry with Cronulla after injuries to key men Tom Trbojevic and Dylan Walker.
But as they showed when they defeated the Raiders after the couple fell last weekend, the brave sea eagles can never be ruled out.
The sharks are unlikely to have much sympathy for their old enemies, which they defeated in two brutal big finals in the 1970s.
More recently, Manly has thrown Cronulla out of last year’s playoffs and has sourly ended Paul Gallen’s famous career.
That will surely come to mind of the sharks when they shoot after two wins.
The Rundown
Team news
Sea eagle: Sean Keppie will start the game in shirt number 16 with Martin Taupau coming from the exchange. Morgan Boyle and Abbas Miski were the last two players to leave the squad. Tom Trbojevic (thigh) and Dylan Walker (ankle) fail, Brendan Elliot switches to full back, Lachlan Croker to fifth and Jorge Taufua returns to the wing. Cade Cust joins the exchange.
Haumole Olakau’atu and Toafofoa Sipley were left out 24 hours before kick-off. Manly has won 11 of his last 12 games against the Sharks.
Sharks: As was the case last week, it was announced an hour before the game started that Braden Hamlin-Uele would start Andrew Fifita’s game to get off the exchange. Scott Sorensen and Connor Tracey were the last two players to leave the squad. The success story of the sharks against the sea eagles (26%) is the worst against any opposition. William Kennedy and Jackson Ferris were left out 24 hours before kick-off.
Key match-up
John All vs. Jorge Taufua. Without Katoa’s brilliant hat trick against the Bulldogs, Cronulla would be almost at the foot of the ladder and not just outside the top eight. The acrobatic winger competes in a big fight against the mighty Taufua.
