Cronulla believes they can break historical patterns and secure the premiership from outside the top four if they need to take a challenging route in September.
As they approach Sunday's match against Parramatta, the Sharks are eager to win their last two games against the Eels and Melbourne, as this could be crucial for achieving a fourth-place finish.
Traditionally, teams have had to secure a top-four finish to win the title, with no team succeeding from fifth or lower since Canterbury did so in 1995.
Nonetheless, Cronulla is confident in their ability to perform well in the finals, boasting an 8-6 record against teams still in contention, including victories over the Warriors and a massive 66-0 win against the Dolphins.
"The title doesn't belong to anyone," said prop Addin Fonua-Blake.
"You don't just get it because you're in the top four. You have to win it. You have to rock up and be willing to do the tough stuff from the get go.
"We believe we can do that.
"We're going to fight hard to get in the top four, but if we don't we're going to hold the gloves up and go after it anyway."
Their head-to-head record against top-10 teams is on par with the Dolphins, trailing only the Sydney Roosters (9-4) and Penrith (7-4) as they head into this round.
Last year, Cronulla made a run from outside the top four, even reaching the preliminary final while placed fifth.
"It's always the same case; I'm pretty sure the talk is about us not playing at home and the portaloo stadium," Ronaldo Mulitalo stated.
"It's that time of year when conversations turn to the long way around and all that other jazz.
"But it's about what happens in these four walls and the belief we have among us regardless of who thinks we can or can't.
"At the end of the day, we have to get results. It would be pretty trashy for me to sit here and tell you what we're going to do if we don't do it.
"Actions-based is what we want to be about; lip service isn't what you want to pursue in this game."
The Sharks are optimistic that five-eighth Braydon Trindall is close to returning from a shoulder dislocation, as they postponed his surgery.
Trindall has been exceptional this season, and he is likely to return for the knockout finals.
"He wanted to play this week, but we've got to make sure we get it right," coach Craig Fitzgibbon remarked.
"He's had a good result out of what happened.
"When we put him back out there, there needs to be mitigating risk. I will trust the medical guys on whether it's worth pushing that risk."