South Sydney have produced 106 points in two weeks, but five-eighth Cody Walker says they can't afford to keep giving away head starts as Parramatta lie in wait.
The Rabbitohs backed up a 60-8 thumping of the Roosters with a 46-20 blitz against Newcastle on Sunday to make week two of the playoffs.
However, they've conceded the first try in their past three games and trailed the Knights by 14 after just 11 minutes at ANZ Stadium.
And given the Eels bolted to a 12-0 lead before being overhauled by Melbourne on Saturday, Walker believes it's paramount to begin well.
"The area we need to improve is obviously our starts," Walker said.
"It's pretty simple for us. We just need to get through our sets, put the ball deep inside their half and build a lot of pressure and a lot of fatigue. If we play the way that we're capable of playing, I've got full confidence in the group that we can beat anyone on our day."
It was only five weeks ago that South Sydney flogged Parramatta 38-0 at Bankwest Stadium – the same venue as this Saturday's clash – but Walker is wary of Brad Arthur's troops.
The playmaker, who was the Bundaberg Rum Man of the Match against Newcastle, noted the Rabbitohs completed "90-something per cent" of their sets in the first half of that big win over the Eels.
"That's our game," he said.
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"We played our style of footy that we know we're capable of and that's what we need to be doing for the full 80 minutes."
Damien Cook agreed their opponents cannot be taken lightly.
"I think we'll forget that [round 16] because we saw what Parramatta did to Melbourne. I thought they had a great game," Cook said.
"It won't be the same Parramatta side that we versed a few weeks ago ... They're playing with a lot of confidence again and that's a dangerous thing. They're a quality side and that's why they were a top-four side all year."
The Rabbitohs spine – halves Walker and Reynolds, hooker Cook and fullback Corey Allan – have been receiving most of the raps for the team's spectacular attacking form.
But Walker heaped praise on their forwards, who he said have been "unfairly criticised throughout the whole season".
Prop Junior Tatola was enormous with two tries, 133 metres and 23 tackles against Newcastle while fellow middles Tom Burgess, Liam Knight and Cameron Murray have been strong.
Back-rowers Bayley Sironen and Jaydn Su'A have improved markedly.
"[The forward pack] have been the best part of our side for the whole season," Walker said.
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"I think early on in the season, it was the connection between the spine that probably let us down in a lot of areas in our game.
"Latrell [Mitchell] played centre for the last couple of years, moved to a different position [fullback], he needed to work out how we play – myself, Reyno, Cookie.
"And as the season went on you've seen that partnership grow. Obviously losing Latrell was a pretty big loss but in comes Corey Allan who's done a fantastic job."
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Cook added: "Especially at the start of the year, it was an easy thing to say we were going to struggle because of our forwards because we were missing some big names.
"I think they've definitely proved a lot of people wrong. I think some people are starting to realise we've got a good forward pack here and they're starting to get the credit.
"They just do their job, they come out here and they're competing well, they're running the ball hard and they're defending well.
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"That's what we need at the moment, because if we do that in the middle the backs will take care of the rest.
"Everyone's doing their part ... The halves are just taking over and doing a great job. We've got a great back line and Cody and Reyno together have just been outstanding.
"I know Cody's getting a lot of the credit and scoring the tries, but what Reyno is doing with the ball and putting him in space, it's just an unbelievable combination."
