Manly duo Kieran Foran and Jason King admit the Sea Eagles will need to lift their game if they are to topple fierce rivals Melbourne and reach their fourth grand final from the past six seasons.

The Sea Eagles escaped with a scrappy and controversial 22-12 NRL victory over North Queensland on Friday night – but are well aware of the challenge that faces them next Friday in Melbourne.

Despite being just 22, Foran says he fully understands the rivarly that has built between the Storm and Sea Eagles in recent years – and believes that will make next week’s grand final qualifier even more difficult.

And that means they can’t offer Melbourne, who have enjoyed a week’s break following their demolition of South Sydney, as many chances as they gave the Cowboys.

“We’re going to have to go up another level again,” Foran said.

“They’re going to be fresh. They were very clinical against the Rabbits.

“… It is tougher playing them down (in Melbourne). They seem to always turn up a little bit more when they’re playing at home.”

Co-captain King said the Sea Eagles were aware they would need to pinpoint some areas of Friday’s performance where they could extract a little bit more from.

“There’s definitely areas we need to improve on, for sure,” he said.

“We’ll have a look at the tape and pick out some areas we need to improve on.

“And we’ll study (Melbourne’s) tape as well and have a look at their threats, that’s for sure.”

Foran was given an eye-opening experience in his finals debut in 2009 when he and his teammates were dominated by a rampant Storm outfit, who belted the visiting side 40-12 and ended their season.

That Storm team would go on to win the grand final before having it’s premiership stripped for gross salary cap breaches the following year.

But it was a daunting introduction to finals football in Melbourne for the then 18-year-old.

“We got flogged I don’t remember much (but) I remember being behind the tryline a fair bit,” he said.

“They caught us off guard and they were very good that night. That’s what I do remember.”

Manly will welcome back suspended centre Steve Matai from suspension for the Storm clash but will have at least one player in his debut finals series.

Fortunately for the Sea Eagles that is rookie winger Jorge Taufua, who coach Geoff Toovey said had been the team’s best across their opening two finals.

In the two matches Taufua has scored a pair of tries, made six line breaks, broken 25 tackles and run for a staggering 513 metres.

“He’s phenomenal,” Foran said.

“I don’t think words can describe how good he’s been for us this year.

“And he’s gone to a new level in the finals series. He’s just so strong and so balanced and fast.

“He seems to pull something out when we need it and he’s a very valuable player to this side.”