Forgotten ladder leaders Cronulla have reacted to talk that a second straight Melbourne-Manly NRL grand final is a foregone conclusion by claiming it eases the pressure as they mount their own premiership challenge.

The bruising intensity of last Friday's top of the table clash between the Storm and Sea Eagles - won 16-10 by the premiers - had most experts believing they had witnessed the match of the season between the competition's two real contenders.

But there are three teams on 32 points, with the grafting Sharks avoiding another late season fade-out to sit alongside their more fancied rivals.

"It doesn't really bother us," Sharks lock Greg Bird said of all the Melbourne-Manly talk.

"I haven't really even thought about semi-final football, we have only thought about playing next week and that's the way we've been all year.

"Everyone sort of expects us to fail so I think it's sort of a little bit of pressure off.

"No-one really gives us any credit anymore so we're just going through doing what we do and hopefully come October we're still in the mix."

Despite their lofty position, the Sharks are rated only fifth favourites by bookmakers to win their inaugural premiership.

That could be because their points differential - plus-29 - is the worst of any side currently in the top eight and miles behind co-leaders Manly (230) and the Storm (207).

But despite a 34-6 touch-up by Manly five weeks ago, the Sharks have beaten both co-leaders this year, albeit not since rounds one and two.

"I suppose that's got to add to your confidence, they're not unbeatable," Bird said.

"Both teams have been beaten recently so there's no reason why on our day we can't turn up and beat those teams."

For a Sharks side big on heart but low on superstars, the Wests Tigers fairytale of 2005 is another motivator.

"You just go back to the Tigers a couple of years ago, they definitely weren't the best team in the comp probably all year, until semi-final time they started turning a bit on and really put the sword to a few teams," Bird said.

"There's no reason why we can't be mixing it with these teams and doing a similar thing."

But Bird warned his side would need to improve to do so.

"I watched that game last Friday night and it was high-flying from both teams, the confrontations from the Manly forwards and the skill of the Melbourne backs," he said.

"It was a pretty enjoyable game to watch and, you compare that to any other game over the weekend, I think a lot of teams are off the pace compared to those two teams.

"But there's a long way to go before the semis, it's another four weeks so I'm sure that a lot of teams can turn that around."

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