Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has stepped up the mind games on the eve of their finals clash with the Roosters, inferring the Tri-colours may lack the necessary hunger to topple his side on Saturday night.
As both sides went through their final paces barely 200m apart from each other in the Moore Park precinct on Friday morning, Sheens was doing his best to release the pressure off his side and throw it at the feet of the Roosters.
Despite finishing three places higher than the Roosters on the NRL ladder this season, the Tigers have struggled against Brian Smith's side, losing on both occasions the two sides met during the regular season.
And Sheens believes that record might work in his side's favour and give them the edge on Saturday night.
Asked if he was worried about the Tigers' record against the Roosters, Sheens said: "That would be more of a concern for Brian (Smith) than me."
"That just means we're going to turn up (ready to play.)"
"What he'll be worried about is will his team turn up?"
"We're very keen to be here (in the finals), we haven't been here for a while."
"We've achieved more than what people thought we could by finishing third so everything else from here is just a bonus."
Told of Sheens' comments, Roosters prop Jason Ryles said: "The mind games are well and truly under way now."
"We definitely take a bit of confidence out of that but it is a whole new ball game now."
"It's an old cliche I know but in semi-finals footy the stakes are a lot higher now so it's up to us to put in."
While the Roosters are expected to have a clean bill of health for the highly anticipated clash, the same can't be said for the Tigers.
Full-back Wade McKinnon is still struggling with a hamstring injury while prop Bryce Gibbs (knee) is also no certainty to play.
Both trained with the team on Friday and Sheens said he would give them right up until kick off to prove their fitness.
"Bryce should be alright but Wade's probably doubtful," Sheens said of the duo.
"We'll have to make a decision on the fullback (after training) this morning but I'm giving him until the last minute as a senior player."