Fresh from a fiery encounter in Melbourne last weekend, the Sea Eagles are bracing themselves for anything but a warm welcome in Canberra on Friday night.
Although not on the same wavelength as the rivalry with the Melbourne Storm, the Sea Eagles will certainly know they are in Canberra after what happened there last season at GIO Stadium.
Manly centre Dylan Walker become the hero for the Sea Eagles and the public villain for Raiders fans when he kicked a penalty goal in extra-time to get Manly home 20-18 in what was a fiery encounter.
The Sea Eagles then followed it up with a 21-20 victory over the Raiders at home. Canberra then returned to Lottoland in round four this year but were pumped 32-16, giving Manly their fourth win from the past matches against Canberra.
Unfortunately for Manly, Walker will miss the next six weeks after suffering a facial fracture in the superb win over the Storm last Saturday.
Manly will now be looking to record their third consecutive victory for the first time this season following their tremendous wins on the road against Brisbane and the Storm in the past fortnight.
A Manly victory will see them leapfrog the Raiders on the ladder to move to 10 competition points while the Raiders will be looking to snap a two game losing streak after going close against competition leaders St George-Illawarra last weekend.
However if the Sea Eagles pack can repeat their outstanding efforts of the past fortnight again against the big Raiders forwards, the likes of in-form full-back Tom Trbojevic and half-back Daly Cherry-Evans will cause plenty of trouble if Manly can record another high completion like they did against the Storm (81 per cent)
Trbojevic ran an astonishing 243 metres against Melbourne and also scored a try to further press his claims for a NSW jersey when the Origin team is named on Monday.
Older brother Jake has to be a massive chance again to represent the Blues considering his superb form all season.
Cherry-Evans will now be allowed to play his natural, running game now with experienced five-eighth Trent Hodkinson starting in the six jersey after a solid first up performance in his first game back in Manly's colours since 2010 following stints at three different clubs.
Unfortunately for the Sea Eagles, the team will sorely miss the attacking skills of Walker and suspended hooker Api Koroisau. Lewis Brown has replaced Koroisau at hooker.
On a positive note for Manly, winger Jorge Taufua will play his first game since breaking his collarbone in the round three loss to South Sydney, while new centre Moses Suli has been making every post a winner since coming into the team in round nine.
The Raiders might hear the sounds of the Vikings 'clap' from their fans as they walk onto the ground but Manly supporters will be hoping it is them cheering and clapping at full-time in what will be another great contest between these two new rivals.
Canberra v Manly, GIO Stadium, Friday, May 25, 6pm kick-off
Head-to-head: Played 54; Sea Eagles 33 wins, Raiders 20 wins, 1 draw
At GIO Stadium: Played 15; Sea Eagles, Raiders 6
Televised: Live on Fox League
