The New Zealand Warriors skipper Steve Price believes the short turnaround between finals matches could prove to be a godsend ahead of his side's National Rugby League semi-final against the Sydney Roosters tonight.
With Auckland abuzz all week in anticipation of the Warriors' shock home final, Price says the players had hardly had the chance to get caught up in the hysteria surrounding the sold-out clash after arriving back from Melbourne on Monday.
Tickets to the general public were snapped up within 11 minutes of going on sale on Tuesday, while Warriors paraphernalia is scattered throughout the streets of Auckland with locals confident their side can go one step further than last season's semi-final finish.
However Price says much of the hype has passed the players by.
He says they haven't really had too much time to be thinking about stuff to be honest, it's been back to business for them.
While Price has tried his best to ignore the hype, centre and brother-in-law Brent Tate admitted it had caught him a little off guard.
In his first year with the Warriors after a long career with Brisbane, Tate likened the atmosphere to that of the Queensland capital when the Broncos were in the finals - the one-town, one-team camaraderie of everyone getting behind their team.
Tate says he's been taken aback by the hype, there's such a buzz around the place, it's such a great feeling but also it is a bit of a challenge for them to keep it in check.
A crowd of 26,500 is expected tonight.
