The Sharks have declared they won't take a backwards step in Saturday's clash with the Bulldogs as they look to lay the foundation for a deep finals run.
Cronulla concede they were bullied by Canterbury when the two sides faced off in Round 4, with the Bulldogs claiming a 20-6 victory at Sharks Stadium.
The match was a fiery affair, with the visitors getting in the face of Craig Fitzgibbon's men to send an early-season statement.
Cronulla prop Tom Hazelton was forced to watch the game from the sidelines with a back injury and declared his team won't be bullied at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.
Tensions flaring
"We're starting to build a good rivalry with them," Hazelton said. "The last four or five times we've played have swung back and forth.
"Every time we play against them we know what we're up for. They scrap and they fight and they know what they're about. It's going to be a good challenge for us this weekend and we're looking forward to it.
"They're the best defensive team in the competition and they've been packing out Accor Stadium all year so it will have a semi-final feel to it. It's almost a perfect audition for what's ahead but at the same time we're trying not to think too far ahead."
Match: Bulldogs v Sharks
Round 27 -
home Team
Bulldogs
3rd Position
away Team
Sharks
5th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Cronulla have received a big boost, with five-eighth Braydon Trindall named to play despite suffering an ankle injury last weekend. Centre Jesse Ramien is also on track to return from a broken thumb.
Canterbury will welcome Viliame Kikau back, with coach Cameron Ciraldo resisting the urge to rest players.
The Bulldogs are almost certainly locked into third place on the ladder, while the Sharks can finish anywhere from fourth to sixth based on other results throughout the weekend.
Canterbury have made no secret of their desire to get in their opponents' faces this year, with Reed Mahoney involved in a number of heated moments in the win over Cronulla earlier in the year.
While Mahoney has faced criticism for his reputation as a pest, he found an unlikely ally in Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo.
"I love giving it to them, they love giving it to me," Mulitalo said. "It's part of the theatre of the game. That's what fans want to see, a bit of personality and something different.
"There's no point us all being robots, that's a boring game. You want to pay for entertainment and that's us showing it means something to us. It's good for the game and it's always a good battle with the Bulldogs.
"You play this game to test yourself against the best and let's hope that's the case this weekend."
Ronaldo bags a brace
Canterbury's success this year has been built on a mobile pack willing to scrap and scramble their way to victory.
The Bulldogs have conceded the fewest points in the competition, with coach Cameron Ciraldo instilling a defensive mindset as the foundation for his squad.
The presence of versatile forwards Kurt Mann, Josh Curran and Max King has provided a point of difference in attack, particularly in an era of rugby league played at breakneck speed.
Hazelton said that mobility makes the Bulldogs so hard to defend but is confident his side has the right mix of size and agility to combat their opponents.
"They're not the biggest pack but they all work hard," Hazelton said. "They move fast, they're fit and agile and with the way the game is at the moment, it suits their style.
"They scrap and work hard and fight for everything, so we're going to have to be at our best to beat them this weekend."
