With their top four hopes hanging by a thread, stand-in Sydney Roosters skipper Braith Anasta has called on teammates not to resort to the biff against defending premiers Melbourne on Friday night.

The Roosters' bid for a top four spot - and the home final that comes with it - goes on the line at Olympic Park against a Storm side they haven't lost to since May last year.

While Anasta admitted the tri-colours were in somewhat of an abyss as far as their premiership credentials go, the NSW pivot said turning to the bash was not the answer - as suggested by St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown last month.

"I don't think the way to beat them is to rough them up, you've just got to be physical and match them as much as you can up front," Anasta said.

"We're not going to go out there throwing punches and carrying on like idiots."

Brown came under fire for suggesting the next time his side met the Storm he would instruct the Dragons to turn the game into a bloodbath.

Manly seemed to take heed of the comments with the normally placid Brent Kite going toe to toe with Storm backrower Michael Crocker in last week's top of the table match-up.

It looked like the Roosters would follow suit when coach Brad Fittler named one of the biggest packs the NRL has seen in recent memory with NSW prop Willie Mason packing down at lock.

Throw in fellow front rowers Mark O'Meley, David Shillington and Lopini Paea in the starting pack and it looks like a recipe for a full frontal assault.

"It's a sign of how you've got to play Melbourne," Anasta said.

"It's going to be physical, it's on a smaller field ... they play through the middle of the park - you've got to have some big tough guys there ready to go into battle.

"I suppose it is a bit of a sign of how the game's going to be but I think everyone's pretty sure how they're going to turn up."

Despite Anasta's denials, Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk said the Storm were anticipating another fiery encounter.

"Teams come in trying to play that aggressive, in-your-face type of football and we kind of enjoy it too - fighting fire with fire, standing up to be counted," he said.

"It's a contact sport, it's an aggressive sport.

"You have to match up depending on what tactic teams bring. You adapt to it."

Three points ahead of fifth-placed Brisbane, the Roosters remain in the box seat to secure a top four finish, and they've beaten Melbourne the last two times they've played.

But brilliant displays - such as the 34-12 win over Manly three weeks ago - have been interspersed with less spectacular performances like last week's 28-24 loss to struggling Parramatta.

Anasta admitted the lack of consistency had left even the Roosters players questioning their standing in the pecking order of premiership favouritism.

"I don't think anyone knows where we're at right now, even ourselves," Anasta said.

"This is probably a good week to try and get things back on track, but it's not the be all and end all.

"We've done pretty well to be where we are on the table which is good because we've still got our best ahead - whether that comes the next few weeks or not we're not sure."

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