Canberra Raiders skipper Jarrod Croker has been around long enough to accept as the norm his side being written off before a ball's been kicked in anger.
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Just ask coach Ricky Stuart, who blasted outsiders for not giving the club and its players enough respect, that they're "just meant to show up and be part of it", after their round-eight win over Souths.
The players insist it's not being used as fuel but they've put egg on many faces after winning three straight games to leap to fifth on the table before Sunday's clash with third-placed St George Illawarra at Wollongong.
It's a battle of the surprise packets, with both teams written off as genuine wooden spoon contenders early this season.
"We get that [written off] every year, whether we're coming off the back of semi-final footy or not," Croker said.
"That's just the way it is for us, I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me, and I'm sure it doesn't bother the other boys as well.
"We're not reading into that stuff too much, it doesn't concern us."
However, Canberra's round-three home capitulation to the Dragons - where they gave up an 18-0 lead - is still in the back of their minds.
"It's not so much motivation, we owe it to ourselves and our fans to play well for 80 minutes against the Dragons," Croker said.
"We didn't do that in round three, we clocked off after half-time and let them back into the game and they were good enough to take the win.
"I think we're a better side than we were in round three."
Since that loss the Raiders have averaged 32 points a game to build the NRL's best attacking record, while the league's stingiest defence the Dragons has leaked less than 10 points a match over the same period.
"They're defending well, they've probably been the form team over the last six or seven weeks," Croker said.
"Their defence has been rock solid but if we stick to how we've been playing and complete our sets, we'll give ourselves every opportunity to break their line.
"But it's a pretty tough job for anybody at the moment."
Sunday's clash is the last chance for players to press their claims for State of Origin selection, with Josh Papalii (Queensland) the Raiders' most realistic hope.
Raiders fullback Jack Wighton and five-eighth Blake Austin have been mentioned as possible Blues bolters at some stage in the series.
Wighton earned high praise from Immortal Andrew Johns recently when he said he expects him to play some role for NSW this year.
"It's great hearing stuff like that, especially from a player like Joey, but it's only words until it comes around," Wighton said.
"It's just one of those things where if I get picked, I'll take it on board then.
"I've got belief I can do it when the time's right."
SUNDAY
NRL round nine: St George Illawarra v Canberra Raiders at WIN Stadium, 2pm
TV: Live on Fox Sports 1
