Tim Sheens says maintaining confidence in his ability helped him get the Wests Tigers through a nightmare run that threatened to derail their NRL season.

The Tigers, who have won their past five matches, sit just two points outside the top four and face struggling Parramatta, Gold Coast and Cronulla in their final three matches of a campaign that only a month ago looked to be spiralling out of control.

Four successive defeats and rumours of dressing-room unrest among players after Tim Moltzen, Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Fifita were allowed to join other clubs next season had many writing off Sheens' side.

However, putting together a run of form that included victories over high-flying Manly and premiers St George Illawarra, silenced his critics, and the veteran coach says keeping faith in what has worked for him throughout his 27-year career was the key.

"It is all about hard work and perseverance, there is no secret about it," Sheens said on Saturday.

"You trust yourself, you trust your systems, you might tweak the odd thing here and there, but realistically you know if you have done well with it then you keep doing it.

"I was criticised for a number of things but now everyone has shut up ... you have to trust yourself and back yourself and most coaches know that."

A cautious Sheens is demanding his players remain focused ahead of their final three games as they look to tie up a top-four finish to secure a home final.

His side go into Sunday's clash with the Eels at the Sydney Football Stadium red-hot favourites, but Sheens is wary of facing the last team to have tasted victory over his side in round 18.

"Among playing groups everyone has a respect for everyone else, where they are on the table means nothing on a given day," he said.

"Look at last week with the Roosters beating St George. You cannot expect where they are on the table to rule on how you play the game, we have been behind many a team on the table this year and won.

"We were behind Manly and St George and won and the also the Cowboys ... everyone loves to be the underdog.

"Our situation a couple of weeks ago would have seen many not tipping us in their tipping competitions when we played those teams ... but now the tipsters are saying the Wests Tigers will beat Parramatta.

"But apart from a poor first half against Souths when they were belted in a one-off performance, they have been strong.

"We have to build and maintain our level of performance ... you can't just expect to win games, we have to play at semi-final standard over the next three weeks."

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