Stephen Gleeson runs a stable in the bush, yet not even a Sydney trainer could have a better insight into the TAB Rewards Handicap at Canterbury.

Weather permitting, Gleeson will bring Don't Tease Me to town on Saturday as the Muswellbrook trainer chases his first victory in Sydney.

The last-start Doomben winner is one of the more go-ahead sprinters in country racing and Gleeson nominated Don't Tease Me for Canterbury to complement a Brisbane entry.

Gleeson has already ruled out a return to Doomben due to the prospect of a heavy track and he wants some relief in Sydney's weather before committing Don't Tease Me to a Canterbury start.

If Don't Tease Me does make the trip from the Hunter Valley, Gleeson has a strong handle on the two horses bookmakers rate as the hardest to beat.

The odds-on favourite Mr Manhattan beat Don't Tease Me at Warwick Farm while second favourite Freeze The Charges has been a familiar figure around Gleeson's Hunter Valley stable.

"I pre-train Freeze The Charges," Gleeson said.

"I've had her in and out of the stable since she was a two-year-old.

"Look, I could be wrong but Don't Tease Me is more than capable of leading Freeze The Charges but whether he can keep going is another thing."

And Gleeson saw enough of Mr Manhattan at Warwick Farm to declare the Joe Pride-trained sprinter a horse on the rise.

"When we raced against Mr Manhattan at Warwick Farm, he sat back off us and went to the line like a very good horse," Gleeson said.

"He's a very promising horse. He was entered for two races and we were hoping he would go for the other race."

Canterbury was rated almost in the heavy range after receiving 8mm of rain in the 24 hours leading up to an early morning track inspection on Thursday.