VENUE & TIME: ANZ Stadium, Saturday August 30, 19.30 AEST
COVERAGE: FOX Sports
LAST TIME: Eels 19-18 Dragons, at ANZ Stadium, round 9, 2008.
WALKING WOUNDED: In-form pivot Jamie Soward (back) and prop Ricky Thorby (ribs) are both casualties of their side's impressive 34-6 defeat of the Warriors on Sunday. Brett Morris (shoulder) is another week away from a return as is veteran rake Simon Woolford (knee). Tireless Eels halfback Brett Finch has succumbed to a cheekbone injury suffered in the win over the Bulldogs with Kris Keating to now partner Feleti Mateo in a new-look halves pairing. Joel Reddy will also miss after suffering a minor hamstring injury last start while Daniel Wagon (ribs) and Mark Riddell (knee) remain sidelined indefinitely.
FORM: The Dragons occupy seventh spot on the NRL ladder on the back of vital victories over top-eight aspirants the Warriors and Broncos in recent weeks. While they are far from assured a finals berth, Nathan Brown's men look to be hitting top gear at the right time after disposing of the Warriors in a canter last start. Meanwhile, the Eels have made their own late charge for the post-season with three wins on the trot but have they left their run too late? One more loss would surely spell the end of Parramatta's season but solid wins over the Dogs, Tigers and Roosters in their previous three outings suggest they are not done just yet.
WHO'S HOT: Departing prop Jason Ryles continued his sparkling form in his final NRL season with a vintage front-rower's performance in his final outing at WIN Stadium last weekend. But Ryles was not the only big gun to fire with NSW centre pairing Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper performing well while dual international Wendell Sailor continues to contribute for his new club. As has been the case all season long, Mateo was the Eels' best against the Bulldogs on Saturday night but he will need help from some of his underperforming team-mates against the firing Dragons.
WE THINK: While the Eels have won three in succession, form suggests the star-studded Dragons will end Parramatta's run - and season - on Saturday night. Dragons by 12.
TEAMS:
Dragons: 1. Jason Nightingale, 2. Wendell Sailor, 3. Mark Gasnier (c), 4. Matt Cooper, 5. Josh Morris, 6. Ben Rogers, 7. Ben Hornby, 8. Dan Hunt, 9. Stuart Webb, 10. Jason Ryles, 11. Beau Scott, 12. Ben Creagh, 13. Dean Young
Interchange: 14. Matt Prior, 15. Kirk Reynoldson, 16. Lagi Setu, 17. Ben Ellis, 18. Rangi Chase, 19. Jarrod Saffy
Eels: 1. Jarryd Hayne, 2. Luke Burt, 3. Taulima Tautai, 4. Krisnan Inu, 5. Tony Williams, 6. Kristopher Keating, 7. Brett Finch, 8. Nathan Cayless (c), 9. Matthew Keating, 10. Fuifui Moimoi, 11. Nathan Hindmarsh, 12. Chad Robinson, 13. Feleti Mateo
Interchange: 15. Josh Cordoba, 16. Todd Lowrie, 17. Junior Paulo, 19. Weller Hauraki.