Tigers should enjoy the moment -
Freeman

Tim Sheens wants to keep the build-up to this week's NRL grand final as low-key as possible, but a former Balmain great has warned the Tigers not to ignore the hype.

Former Balmain halfback Gary Freeman said the Tigers would be missing the opportunity of a lifetime by not embracing some of the week's fanfare ahead of Sunday's clash against North Queensland.

Still hopeful of making an appearance on Sunday is winger Pat Richards, who was carried off at halftime in Saturday's win over St George Illawarra with a suspected broken ankle.

Scans on Monday cleared Richards of a fracture and the towering winger will be given the week to prove his fitness for the Tigers' maiden grand final at Telstra Stadium.

Freeman, who played in Balmain's losing grand final sides of 1988 and 1989, said it was impossible to ignore the pressure and build-up to what for many would be the biggest match of their lives.

"No-one can say they treat it like it's just another game, it doesn't exist," Freeman said.

"There's a lot more pressure on you because you know you're there.

"We went so close twice but things didn't go our way, but I don't think you can ever treat grand final week like it's another game because it isn't.

"Players will say it is, but when you look back at what you go through and the pressure, the build-up and what the fans expect, they're all wanting a win."

After beating the Dragons on Saturday night to book a grand final berth, Sheens said it would be "business as usual" for the Tigers, and was confident his players wouldn't get caught up in the all the excitement of grand final week.

"We've been keeping a lid on it for the past month," Sheens said.

"I don't see why we can't keep it on this week."

Chief executive Steve Noyce said the experience of the club's coaching staff would ensure the Tigers' squad of finals rookies wouldn't be overawed by the pressure.

"We're fortunate that people like Tim (Sheens), (assistant coach) Royce (Simmons) and (head trainer) Bryan (Hider) have been to grand finals before," Noyce said.

"We're very fortunate that we've got that sort experience at the helm.

"The players, all year it's been about doing the same things and getting into a routine and in any number of ways this is no different on the weekend.

"It's another game we have to prepare well for and go from there."

After spending most of last week trying to play down their chances of winning the premiership, the Tigers will face a new sort of pressure this week with bookmakers installing them as premiership favourites.

TAB Sportsbet is offering odds of $1.62 for a Tigers win, compared to $2.20 for a Cowboys victory.

Meanwhile Noyce today made an impassioned plea for anyone with unwanted grand final tickets to contact the club, with the Tigers making an offer to buy any seats to the decider.

The final 7000 tickets to the grand final were snapped up within an hour.

"If for whatever reason fans don't have the same interest in going to the grand final, whether their team's been knocked out or their circumstances changed, I'm just pleading with people there are a lot of Wests Tigers fans who would love to be there to witness their team play in their first ever grand final," Noyce said.

"Whatever we get won't be enough. We've got thousands of requests, we're certainly not going to get that many, but the more we get the more West Tigers fans we can help."

Meanwhile, NRL chief executive David Gallop said the league would help re-distribute unwanted grand final tickets.

Gallop said the NRL could assist Parramatta and St George Illawarra fans who were looking to sell their tickets.

"We'll work with those types of ticket holders to get the tickets for above face value," he said.