They may have jumped from wooden spooners to NRL finalists inside 12 months, but hard-marking Roosters skipper Braith Anasta will declare the 2010 campaign 'a failure' if his side is quickly bundled out of the play-offs.
The sixth-placed Roosters meet Wests Tigers in the second qualifying final at the SFS on Saturday night, mindful a loss could spell the end of their season.
Despite the progress made this year, Anasta admits an early exit would leave a bitter taste in his mouth.
"It would be a failure if we went out in the first or second week," he said at the NRL Captains' Call on Monday.
"It's been a great season – we've come a long way – but it's not finished."
"A lot of ours guys aren't ready for it to be over."
"They want it to keep going."
"We're not satisfied with everything we've achieved."
Anasta, who won a premiership with the Bulldogs in 2004, has stressed to his team-mates the importance of cashing in on the opportunity that has been presented them.
"We got the wooden spoon last year so you never know what's going to happen next year," he pointed out.
"You have to live for the moment. There's a real opportunity here."
"We have the belief we can really give it a good shake."
"We're hoping to get as far as we can."
"There's definitely an opportunity for any team to win the premiership and we are one of them."
The Roosters will go in against the Tigers as the away team in name only.
The Tricolours use the SFS as their training, playing and administration base and are openly delighted at not having to hit the road in the first week of the finals.
"There will be a big Tigers fan base out here and we'd love to see as many Roosters fans out here as possible," Anasta said.
"We got a bit lucky (with the scheduling) and we'll be treating it as a home game."
"We're familiar with the surface and as much as people want to say it's an away game, it isn’t."
"We're excited to play it here."
The Tigers, returning to the finals for the first time since their premiership win five years ago, are also comfortable playing at Moore Park.
It was from the SFS that the joint venture club's surge to the 2005 title began.
"Everyone in the club's pretty excited about being back here in September, it's been five years," skipper Robbie Farah said.
"We're just hoping the Tigers fans outnumber the Roosters fans and make it a home ground advantage for us."
"I'm sure if we can fill out the stadium it will be a great spectacle."