FRIDAY
Sharks v Sea Eagles, Toyota Park
Head to head: Sea Eagles 48, Sharks 21, drawn 2
Last Match: Sharks 15 bt Sea Eagles 12 (Rd 15, 2006)
If ever the NRL's longest standing hoodoo was going to be broken, it's this weekend. Second-placed Manly have the perfect chance to win away to Cronulla for the first time in 21 years with all of the Sharks stars either injured or suspended. Ricky Stuart has been forced to call up bouncer Eddie Su'a and a player he'd previously said had no future at the club, Brett Seymour.
Their mission is to help save the 11th-placed Sharks' season after losing six of their last seven. The Sea Eagles have come up with two thumping wins since a two-match mid-season lull and are virtually at full strength after Steve Matai was cleared at the judiciary this week.
Key: Injuries. The Sharks are struggling to put a competitive team on the paddock.
Tip: Sea Eagles
Titans v Bulldogs, Carrara Stadium
Head to head: Bulldogs 1, Titans 0
Last Match: Bulldogs 22 bt Titans 6 (Rd 3, 2007)
Two competition points are like gold for these two sides battling at the edge of the eight. Both are injury depleted, although the ninth-placed Titans' list is longer and includes brilliant playmaker Scott Prince (collar bone). The eighth-placed Dogs are without Willie Mason (wrist) and Mark O'Meley (hamstring) but big guns Sonny Bill Williams and Willie Tonga are back.
Both clubs were stung by sides below them last week, the Titans smashed 56-10 in Canberra and the Dogs 30-20 by strife-torn Penrith. It's that time of the year when the contenders need to step up and the question is whether the Titans are physically capable of doing so.
Key: Williams. Showed he could cover for Mason and O'Meley in a brilliant performance against the Sydney Roosters three weeks ago.
Tip: Bulldogs
SATURDAY
Panthers v Dragons, CUA Stadium
Head to head: Dragons 11, Panthers 6
Last Match: Dragons 28 bt Panthers 16 (Rd 8, 2007)
Dragons fans have waited all season for their saviour to return. But after wondering if Mark Gasnier's switch to five-eighth would work, they'll probably be more concerned about him getting through the match. Gasnier's pectoral injury won't have diminished his brilliant footwork, which has so often made the difference for the 14th-placed Dragons, but his match fitness will be tested.
Last-placed Penrith shocked the league world by downing the Bulldogs last week but it's anyone's guess how they'll back that
up. The club has come to resemble a transit lounge for players but one motivator could be avoiding the wooden spoon. Richie Williams has been named at five-eighth for the Panthers in his first game against the Dragons since his mid-season departure.
Key: Gasnier. Is he fit enough - and can he play five-eighth?
Tip: Dragons
Knights v Roosters, EnergyAustralia Stadium
Head to head: Roosters 17, Knights 14, drawn 2
Last Match: Knights 22 bt Roosters 18 (Rd 12, 2007)
It's not winning your first one as coach, it's backing it up the next week. Those will be the words going around in Brad Fittler's head as he tries to harness the energy somehow mustered by the 15th-placed Roosters to down Cronulla last week in his debut as a head coach. It looked a bit like a Roosters halcyon days reunion party as the players were shifted back into their best positions and had some fun.
The 10th-placed Knights are the NRL's blow-out specialists and were on the end of another one in Melbourne on Monday. They either hang on grimly or get smashed and their points differential is the second worst in the league - with their opponents the Roosters having worst. The Knights also have a poor record at home against the Roosters, with just two wins from their past nine clashes.
Key: Fittler. Can he keep the juices flowing?
Tip: Roosters
Storm v Raiders, Olympic Park
Head to head: Storm 15, Raiders 5
Last Match: Storm 32 bt Raiders 16 (Rd 2, 2007)
Ladder leaders the Storm are the NRL's winning machine and it's starting to seem that only a meteor crashing into the southern capital could deny them going one better than they did in 2006. Thirteenth-placed Canberra are capable of an ambush but the Storm have made Olympic Park virtually impregnable - and the Raiders haven't won there in seven years.
The Raiders were competitive in the sides' round two clash and have lost no friends with their ticker, but Melbourne have class all over the park and have won the last 10 matches between the clubs. Superstar Greg Inglis (knee) has been named to return for the Storm at five-eighth even though his replacement in the Storm No.6 jersey Matt Geyer - who's back on the wing - made a mockery of the supposed lack of quality pivots in Monday's trouncing of Newcastle.
Key: Storm sheer class. The Raiders try hard but Melbourne have the A-list talent.
Tip: Storm
SUNDAY
Tigers v Warriors, Campbelltown Stadium
Head to head: Tigers 7, Warriors 6
Last Match: Tigers 30 bt Warriors 26 (Rd 10, 2007)
Here come the Warriors. As they did last year, the seventh-placed New Zealanders are making a charge at the right end of the season and have won four of their last five. They have the flair and physicality to trouble the hot and cold Tigers (sixth), who were firmly put in their place by Manly last week.
Tigers boss Tim Sheens has persisted with his Robbie Farah/John Morris halves pairing despite their inability to ignite their outside backs at Brookvale and Dene Halatau struggling at dummy-half. Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has found room for three regular props - Steve Price, Ruben Wiki and Sam Rapira - in a fearsome looking pack that could create plenty of room for in-form fullback Wade McKinnon.
Key: Homesickness. The Warriors have only won three from eight on Australian soil this year.
Tip: Warriors
Rabbitohs v Cowboys, at Telstra Stadium
Head to head: Cowboys 8, Rabbitohs 6
Last Match: Rabbitohs 10 bt Cowboys 6 (Rd 6, 2007)
Souths have needed a breath of fresh air in attack and coach Jason Taylor has been forced by injuries and suspension to find it. Nineteen-year-old Eddie Paea is in at halfback for the dogged but sparkless Jeremy Smith (suspended), the exciting Isaac Luke for Stuart Webb (ankle) at hooker and ball-player John Sutton is back from injury in the second row. It's probably just as well though, because the 12th-placed Rabbitohs are without their previous best attacking weapon, ageless fullback David Peachey (resting).
The fourth-placed Cowboys have a good away record this year and, in Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen, the ability to pierce the proud Souths defence.
Key: Attack. Souths' needs drastic improvement while the Cowboys' will need to fire to breach the league's fourth best defence.
Tip: Cowboys
MONDAY
Broncos v Eels, Suncorp Stadium
Head to head: Broncos 22,
Last Match: Broncos 23 bt Eels 0 (Rd 25, 2006)
The premiership defence was looking up for fifth-placed Brisbane, who have won six of their last seven matches, but life without Darren Lockyer becomes a reality on Monday. They will be desperately hoping alternative playmakers Michael Ennis and Karmichael Hunt can use their considerable talents to step into the breach.
The Broncos pack is strong but the side lacks experience out wide and the Eels' Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu, Ben Smith, Timana Tahu and Eric Grothe have the ability to cut them to ribbons. The third-placed Eels have a good recent record in Brisbane, a legacy of ex-coach Brian Smith's personal rivalry with Broncos mentor Wayne Bennett.
Key: Lockyer, and he's not even playing.
Tip: Eels
