James Tedesco concedes the Roosters will wave their season goodbye against the Sea Eagles if the defensive efforts in the weekend's last-gasp win over the Titans are repeated.
The Tricolours were seconds away from being on the wrong end of what would've been the upset of the year, only for the Gold Coast to blow what appeared to be a certain game-winning try in the dying seconds.
Trent Robinson's side looked in control for large portions of the match but cost themselves dearly with their ball control, committing 12 errors and completing at 67 per cent.
After getting out of jail with a 25-24 win, the Roosters face a tough assignment against a Manly side reeling from a shock 40-12 loss to Melbourne last Friday, with the winner to face South Sydney in a preliminary final and the loser bowing out.
Tedesco admitted the performance against the Gold Coast was "not to semi-final standard" and wouldn't stack up against a strong Sea Eagles outfit hungry for redemption this weekend.
"It was a lot closer than we thought it would be," he said of the Titans loss. "We just made it hard for ourselves. A lot of errors and our execution probably let us down and then just some soft trie which got them back in the game.
"We always felt confident and in control but at that last minute or 30 seconds I thought we were gone.
"A win's a win, you take them any way they come."
Heading into this weekend's do-or-die final, the Roosters will take a lot out of the way Melbourne suffocated the Sea Eagles' main attacking threats, particularly Tom Trbojevic.
The superstar fullback was limited to just 17 touches all game - approximately half of his season average - which helped to stagnate Manly's attack significantly.
While completing at 90 per cent, the Storm dominated field position and possession, limiting the Sea Eagles' opportunities inside attacking zones.
Tedesco said it was a simple game plan the Roosters will aim to replicate on Friday night in Mackay," he said.
"Melbourne didn't do anything special in particular. They obviously shut down a lot of their attacking players but that's how Melbourne defends.
"They didn't give them much ball inside their half and it's pretty hard for Tommy to come up with plays just from his own end. That's a good lesson for us to hold the ball and kick it back to them and keep it down their end as much as possible.
"We can't be making many errors and giving Manly ball inside our half because they've got too many attacking weapons to make us pay. We can't make as many errors as we did on the weekend.
"A lot of that comes off completions and not giving Manly the ball in our half. We did that to the Titans numerous times and defended pretty well but gave up 24 points which is not a semi-final standard."
All eyes will be on Tedesco's battle with NSW Origin teammate Trbojevic, who throughout this year has challenged and arguably overtaken his reign as the game's best fullback.
Tedesco expects his opposite number to respond emphatically to his quiet performance against the Storm, declaring shutting Trbojevic down will be at the top of the Tricolours' agenda.
"It is enjoyable, I'm really close with Jakey and Tom and a few other Manly boys," Tedesco said when asked about the battle with Trbojevic.
"We've been wishing each other luck all throughout the year and now we're coming up against each other and to knock each other out of the finals.
"It's going to be an enjoyable game, Tommy's been in such great form all year and has been good to watch. I haven't versed him all year but it's a big job for us as a whole defensive line to make sure he and their halves don't control the game.
"I'm sure they're going to come out and do everything they can to win and I'm sure that means more touches for Tommy and more involvement so it's a big job for us to keep him quiet again."
