Manly have long drawn motivation from being the team everyone loves to hate, delighting in rubbing critics' noses in it by delivering premierships on a consistent basis.
And coach Geoff Toovey believes that lack of love has them perfectly prepared for the hostile reception awaiting them from passionate Leeds fans when the Sea Eagles take on the Rhinos in Saturday's (AEDST) World Cup Challenge at Headingley Carnegie Stadium.
Toovey insists the 2011 NRL premiers will not only handle the verbal assault from the 21,000-strong crowd but revel in it.
"Manly teams are used to hostile crowds against us," he said from Leeds.
"We will rise to the challenge."
While happy to be playing at home, Leeds coach Brian McDermott played down suggestions the venue will have a major bearing on the outcome.
He said: "We'll enjoy playing at Headingley - we're in familiar surroundings and obviously the majority of the fans will be from Leeds - but I don't think it will give us too much of an advantage."
"For a one-off game, these Aussie fellas will come and give it their best shot."
"If we were playing a three-game series at the same venue possibly it would have a bearing but, for one game, they'll be ready for it."
Manly beat Leeds in the 2009 WCC and have nine players backing up from that game.
The side is chockful of representative players with big match experience - 14 of the WCC squad having played a part in last year's grand final win over the Warriors.
Not surprisingly, Toovey has no concerns over nerves getting the better of his side on Saturday.
"They are very mentally tough and very experienced," Toovey said.
"Most of the players have played in those two grand finals which we won (2008/2011)."
"It's a very stable unit, a very experienced unit and a very confident unit."
With the UK in the grip of a fierce cold snap, the Sea Eagles were forced to train on a synthetic pitch on Monday.
But with temperatures expected to lift in coming days, the match venue should be in perfect condition.
Manly winger David Williams is likely to make his comeback six months after leaving Brookvale Oval in a neck brace during the infamous Sea Eagles-Storm clash.
And co-captain Jason King is right to go after missing the back-end of last season with a pectoral injury.
Leeds enter the match on the back of a disappointing loss to Wigan in the Super League last weekend.