MANLY captain Matt Orford believes his ever-blossoming halves partnership with Jamie Lyon can push both their claims for representative jumpers this year.
Lyon floated between centre and five-eighth last season but the move to No 6 appears permanent for 2008 following the departure of Michael Monaghan and Travis Burns in the off-season.
The pair have acknowledged they face greater pressure to generate more in attack for the Sea Eagles this season and are prepared to attack the line more often.
And Orford is hopeful the added responsibility could help the duo continue their association into the representative ranks.
"I'm working my butt off to make (rep teams) this year and the best way to do that is play good for Manly and be consistent," Orford said ahead of the club's opening trial against the Storm in Gosford tomorrow night. "If we're winning games and I'm playing to my best and taking the line on as much as possible then I'm throwing my hat in the ring. "(Lyon) is just a great runner of the ball and one-on-one he's going to beat you most times and this pre-season he's been working on that.
"He's also a lot more comfortable with the calls and telling blokes where to be and if they're not there he rips right into them, which is good to see.
"In representative selections they look at halves combinations together, so playing together is not going to do us any harm."
Lyon had a mixed season in his long-awaited return to the NRL last year, helping the club to its first grand final in a decade.
But Lyon also lost his place in the Australian side for the end-of-year Test against New Zealand. The former Eel also "won" the most overrated tag in a Rugby League Week's infamous player poll. But the Sea Eagles skipper believes Lyon, who has worked on becoming a better playmaker this year, will answer those critics in the best possible way.
"He's had an awesome pre-season and I think he'll feel a whole lot more comfort-able this year than last year," Orford said.
"Last year, he had come with all these massive expectations and he's a class player and we all know that but I think we'll see a lot more out of him this year."
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler yesterday named a 29-man squad for the Storm trial.
Tomorrow night's match at Bluetongue Stadium, which consists of three 30-minute periods, kicks off at 7.30.
