Manly will know just how legitimate their NRL title credentials are on Saturday night.

One of the form teams of the past three months, even Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler sees the Suncorp Stadium clash with Melbourne as his team's litmus test.

For all the talk of the 10-year anniversary of the Battle of Brookie and "Turbo" Tom Trbojevic's scintillating form, Saturday seems so much more.

Since Manly's stunning run began in round five, they have played just two teams from the competition's elite top six.

During that run they comprehensively beat a Parramatta side missing Dylan Brown 28-6 and pushed a red-hot Penrith before losing 28-16.

Over the past 14 weeks, Manly's average of almost 36 points scored per game is second only to Melbourne but their defence still remains a concern.

"It's probably more a barometer and test to see where we are at," Hasler said.

"There are still aspects of our game that we want to improve on. And a side like Melbourne is certainly going to ascertain that.

"It'll be a type of game where there'll be periods where things aren't going right. It's about how you get out of those periods.

"They're the sorts of things that you look for."

Melbourne have passed every single test handed to them during 16-straight wins, but Saturday night could arguably be their biggest challenge.

Despite battling their own absences, they have easily brushed aside fellow title contenders South Sydney and the injury-plagued Sydney Roosters and Penrith.

In Trbojevic, they face a different threat given the Origin star has had only one game this year where he hasn't scored or set up a try.

Beyond that the build-up remains arguably the biggest it's been for a Manly-Melbourne clash since that famous brawl at Brookvale back in August 2011.

"It's not hatred, it's probably just that the clubs have always had a very healthy respect for each other," Hasler insisted.

"And that's why I think the games always just have that little bit of extra about them.

"They are the sort of side that when you play Melbourne they make you compete on every aspect so they tend to bring out the best in football teams."