Ronaldo Mulitalo knows the finals are no time to let his ego take over and get drawn into another fiery battle with Mark Nawaqanitawase.
But the good news for NRL fans is this: Cronulla's winger is also aware that come Saturday night, he's unlikely to be able to keep it entirely in check at Allianz Stadium.
"I cross the white line and everything, all sanity, goes out," Mulitalo admits.
"It's something I'm focusing on, working hard on. You never want to let your teammates down. There's no time for my bullshit.
"It's whatever the team needs. I'll happily contribute wherever I can. "
Mulitalo and Nawaqanitawase's duel looms as one of the most anticipated of semi-final week, with the Cronulla and Sydney Roosters flyers to face off.
Off the field, the pair enjoy a healthy respect.
But on it, they have been at each other's throats since Mulitalo was sin-binned for hitting Nawaqanitawase late in Gosford last year.
Mulitalo claimed he was baited in that match and responded by scoring twice on his rival in last year's finals, declaring he didn't "give a rats" about Nawaqanitawase's form or aerial talent.
And Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon conceded Mulitalo now trailed 2-1 in the battle after Nawaqanitawase got the better of him in June, knowing his winger would back himself again next time.
That next time has now arrived, with Mulitalo having the chance to end Nawaqanitawase's stint in the NRL before the cross-code star's return to rugby.
"I think (these battles) brings the best out of me. I get excited if I know I've got someone that loves it," Mulitalo said.
"It can go two ways. It’s gone bad for me and it’s gone good for me. That's just the way I play my footy.
"Finals are a different beast. I've got to control some of that. I've got to keep it within the team and probably not let my ego get in the way of those battles.
"This time of the year is about being selfless and not worrying about my own agendas."
Mulitalo knows he came off second best against Nawaqanitawase in round 16, when the pair's tit-for-tat of verbal and physical clashes took over the match and the Rooster scored twice.
"It probably sucked for me after the game because obviously no one likes the loser," Mulitalo said.
"Every game is important for me. I take it really personally.
"I've played the world's best wingers, the Brian To’o’s and all those for years. This is what finals is for and you're going to run into the best of the best."
Picking out a player is also nothing odd for Mulitalo. He and Reed Mahoney had a running battle in Cronulla's 26-16 win on Saturday night.
"He's a hooker, I'm a winger. Everyone hates hookers and wingers," Mulitalo quipped afterwards.
And the Shark is also up for the battle of keeping Cronulla's season alive, after they limped into the finals with four losses from five games before Saturday's win.
"Context is important," Mulitalo said.
"We lost one of the best five-eighths in the game (in Braydon Trindall).
"But we've got a healthy squad now and none of that matters really. Finals are a different beast."
