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Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans is wary of a desperate Parramatta but says he's confident the Sea Eagles could beat Melbourne if they had to in the NRL finals.

If losing to Melbourne has given Manly one thing, it's a blueprint on how to beat the competition favourites come the NRL finals.

The Sea Eagles are in a battle for a top-four finish and pushed the Storm all the way on Saturday night before Craig Bellamy's men secured their 17th straight win.

Despite the disappointment of the loss, Daly Cherry-Evans says he's confident the Sea Eagles could improve and nab the Storm if they cross paths again this season.

"We've got to be playing a lot better footy to beat Melbourne Storm if we get a chance to play them later this year," he said.

"The way they're playing at the moment, it's pretty special.

"We're talking about a stretch of form that hasn't been seen before.

"I won't get too ahead of myself and say we're going to win the comp but Melbourne is a team we might have to beat in the finals if we are looking to do it.

"If you ask me if I believe we can beat them at some stage again this season if we get the chance, yes I do.

"But there's a bit of improvement in us to get that job done."

A fourth-placed finish would have Manly face Melbourne in week one of the finals, but first they have to get there.

Saturday's clash with Parramatta ignites not only a long-standing rivalry, but a battle for a second-chance finish on the ladder.

The Eels are low on form after losing four of their past five games and if the Sea Eagles can snatch a win they can move into fourth with three games to play.

That would depend, however, on the Sydney Roosters, who are level with Parramatta on 28 points before they face Brisbane on Friday night.

But Cherry-Evans is wary of the flailing Eels.

Manly started the season with losses in a row and he knows how powerful desperation can be.

"The motivation continually gets wound up," he said.

"Your willingness to compete gets even higher.

"They're going to be out to get a win at whatever cost and when a team is willing to do whatever it takes to win, they're the dangerous teams to play.

"I can guarantee you when you're watching other teams lose, you certainly don't want to give them any motivation...

"They're well set up this year, they're going to play finals footy but they want to get into that top four and we're chasing it as well."