Tonight, Toyota Stadium, 7.30pm. What the Sharks say:

Cronulla are expecting a different Manly to the one that was a bit rusty when the Sharks beat them 16-10 at Brookvale Oval in the opening round. "They were a little underdone after last year's grand final," injured Sharks star Greg Bird said. "We were pretty pumped." But the Sharks rightfully consider that they have improved as well. What the Sea Eagles say: Coach Des Hasler says that because critics talk up Melbourne, Manly and the Roosters more than the other top-four team - Cronulla - the Sharks will be very keen to make a statement. "'Sticky' [Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart] is a master at getting them up for a big game," Hasler said. "They'll be looking to show everyone where they're at in this competition." What Prichard says: This game will be played with finals-like intensity. It won't be a free-scoring affair, but one that is played at high speed by two teams that will look to force the other into errors and then take advantage. Both teams are strong in defence, particularly in their own 20 metres, and it is likely the difference will come via a try off a kick or a long-range effort that is the result of someone breaking a tackle wide of the ruck. If you like to see two teams going at it relentlessly, trying to make each other crack, then this is your game. I reckon it's shaping up as the game of the year so far. Who will win? Most likely the team that scores last - that's how close it should be. I'm tipping Manly, because they have a couple more players capable of breaking the game open, but the ability of the Sharks to keep getting the job done must be respected. For the Sharks to win: Cronulla have increased their scoring average in their past six games, but at the same time they have conceded more points than they did earlier in the season. Their attack is not the key here - it's their defence. If they manage to come up with several tries but their defence gets a bit slack, the Sea Eagles will out-score them. But if they defend as stubbornly as they can do, they can keep the game tight and possibly nick a win. They will miss Bird's toughness in a game like this, but the return of fullback Brett Kearney is a big plus. He was in great form before injuring his ankle. For the Sea Eagles to win: They have basically got to keep doing what they've been doing, but take it up another notch - and keep their error rate right down. It is hard enough to win a big game like this away from home without making it harder for yourselves by dropping too much ball or missing too many tackles. Mistakes always seem more critical when you're not playing on your own home ground. Manly have got the metre-eating props, back-rowers who can slice through wide of the ruck, in-form halves and plenty of try-scorers outside of them. And they're great defensively. If they play to their strengths, they're right in it. The X-factor: In a game where clean breaks are likely to be rare, the metres rival fullbacks Kearney and Manly's Brett Stewart make on kick-returns and rival hookers Isaac De Gois (Cronulla) and Matt Ballin steal out of dummy-half could give one of the two teams an edge. What the bookies say: Most of the money has been for Cronulla, but while they have firmed a bit, they are still the outsiders. Sportsbook.com.au has Manly at $1.71 and the Sharks at $2.15. Late mail: Hasler said centre Steve Matai had overcome a bruised lung and would play. Both sides are intact.

TEAMS: CRONULLA: B Kearney, M Taulapapa, B Pomeroy, D Simmons, L Covell, B Seymour, B Kimmorley, B Ross, I De Gois, L Douglas, G Millington, F Anderson, P Gallen (c). Res: D Nutley, K Snowden, A Peek, B Green.

MANLY: B Stewart, M Robertson, S Bell, S Matai, D Williams, J Lyon, M Orford (c), B Kite, M Ballin, J Perry, A Watmough, G Stewart, S Menzies. Res: H L'Estrange, M Bryant, A Cuthbertson, G Hall.