NRL: Knee knock won't rule me out of Manly match, says Jordan Rapana

Kiwis and Canberra wing Jordan Rapana has declared himself fit for his side's NRL clash with Manly, despite a knee injury which threatened to rule him out of the game.

Rapana suffered a knock to the knee in the weekend's win over the Warriors, but fought through pain to play out the match.

"I'll be training today and out there with the boys on Friday," Rapana said yesterday.

"I just went into a tackle and got it caught wrong but I managed to play the whole 80 [minutes] on it so it seems to be all right. I pulled up a bit sore but I've been getting physio and it feels a lot better."

That will be worrying news for Manly's left-edge defence which was described by coach Trent Barrett as passive and "like a deer in the headlights" after their 30-26 loss to Melbourne last weekend.

Rapana wants his right-side partners in crime Joey Leilua, Elliott Whitehead and Blake Austin to continue their rich vein of form in Friday night's match at GIO Stadium, where he expects Manly's defence to respond to the challenge.

"They've got young [Brian] Kelly and he's been quality for them and obviously Jorge Taufua is a big boy," Rapana said. "I think they're quality players and I have no doubt they'll be doing their homework on me, Joey, Elliott and Austo.

"We've just got to make sure we focus on us and don't be complacent."

While the "Leipana" combination may have caught some by surprise last season, they have evolved into one of the competition's most high-profile and deadly attacking weapons.

And Rapana is relishing the extra attention.

"You cop a couple of cheap shots and get whacked a bit but that's all right," Rapana said.

"It pushes us to another level. We've always got to be on our game and make sure we play well."

- AAP