Newcastle Knights centre Sione Mata’utia said the team go to Melbourne aiming to match the Storm's intensity when they meet on Monday night at AAMI Park.
As a part of the team’s preparation for the Round 24 clash, the side headed to One World Boxing Academy in Newcastle for a grueling fitness session on Wednesday.
The players were put through their paces in the ring aimed to get the players physically and mentally ready for Monday night’s contest.
“We take a lot out of sessions like this,” Mata’utia said.
“It’s a tougher session where it’s hard on you mentally, but it just changes it up.
“That’s what we need every week, tough sessions which is good mentally and gets us working hard."
With the Storm pushing for a semi final berth, the Knights brace for Melbourne’s powerful attacking game.
“They are the benchmark of the defensive side of the game so our wrestle, defence and overall game has to be on top," Mata'utia added.
“Their attack is just as good as well so we have to be on our game for 80 minutes.”
The Storm’s fast play out of the ruck is an area of the opponent’s game the Knights have paid attention to.
“We just have to match them with our possession and our completion and keep at it,” he said.
“Then hopefully there’s an error that comes out of them and that’s when we will capitilise on the opportunities.”
Mata’utia expects the challenges of the 2015 season to serve as a valuable learning experience for many of the side’s developing players.
“I think most of the young players here have taken a lot out of the whole season,” he said.
“How we started and performed mid season and how we are end is going to be end this is going to be a massive lesson for us.
“We will take that into next year and hopefully we will learn from all our lessons."
The team was buoyed by a hard earned win over the Wests Tigers on Saturday at Campbelltown Stadium and have made the most of the positive atmosphere around Knight HQ.
“It’s a big sigh of relief to finally get a win and we enjoyed it. We want to enjoy our wins and make sure we don’t get used to losing,” he said.
“Hopefully we can prepare the same as we did last week and get another win.
“We have still have a lot to play for and have a lot of pride.
“We want to give our fans something to leave with at the end of the season.
“At the same time we are having fun as well and have a lot to play for.”
