At the entry to Manly Wharf, on the fast ferry to Circular Quay and along the Manly beachfront – everywhere you turn there are reminders the next instalment in the northern beaches derby is coming.

And after his side's disappointing 0-3 start to the season, Marlins coach Sam Lane wouldn't have it any other way.

He wants his players – many of whom have not played in a Manly v Warringah derby – to soak it all up and understand what the game means to the locals as the Anzac Day encounter draws near.   

"It’s always a special week. For a lot of guys throughout the grades it will be their first derby day experience and it's one a lot of them would have marked early in the calendar," Lane said.

"There’s no higher-pressure environment for us than this fixture. We’ve had a far from ideal start and the Rats will go in as deserved favourites.

"We’ll have a really good week around our detail and clarity both sides of the ball and fix some of our issues we’re currently experiencing.

"It's a game that guys will naturally be up for and form can sometimes go out the window. It’s a great opportunity for our guys to put out something to be proud of and move on with our season."

Lane knew his first year in charge would have its challenges, but didn’t envisage a winless start after three rounds.

A narrow loss to Northern Suburbs in the first round was followed by defeat at Parramatta.

Atonement was expected against struggling Southern Districts last Saturday but there was just further pain - the Marlins starting and ending badly in a 40-33 loss that leaves us second from bottom.

Lane acknowledges there are problems across the park but is strong in his belief that things can be turned around.       

While it's been a disappointing start for our first grade team, it's a completely different story in all other grades.

We are unbeaten in second, third and fourth grade and sit eight from eight in the Colts.