Preview of round 10 NRL matches to be played this weekend (all times AEST).

FRIDAY

GOLD COAST TITANS v BULLDOGS at Skilled Park, 7.45pm

Head to head: Bulldogs 2, Titans 0

Last clash: Bulldogs 36 bt Titans 12 at Carrara Stadium (Rnd 19, 2007)

Footy TAB: Bulldogs +6.5 points

TAB Sportsbet: Titans $1.45, Bulldogs $2.65

No Gold Coast team has ever beaten the Bulldogs, but surely that streak is about to end here. Flying high at the top of the table and missing only Anthony Laffranchi for Origin duty, the Titans are poised to dismantle a Dogs side sweating on the fitness of several stars. Sonny Bill Williams (quad), Luke Patten (back) and Ben Roberts (hamstring) missed last week’s mistake-a-thon loss to Penrith and must play here to give the blue and whites any chance. The Titans welcome back co-captain Luke Bailey (broken wrist) while fellow leader, halfback Scott Prince, is a man on a mission after being dudded by Queensland Origin selectors.

Key: Few teams have been able to stop Prince when he was happy, how are the Bulldogs going to do it now that he is mad?

Tip: Titans

PARRAMATTA EELS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS at Parramatta Stadium, 7.45pm

Head to head: Eels 58, Roosters 54, drawn 5

Last Clash: Eels 36 bt Roosters 16 at Aussie Stadium (Rnd 15, 2007)

Footy TAB: Roosters +5.5 points

TAB Sportsbet: Parramatta $1.50, Roosters $2.50

Parramatta claimed their first back-to-back win of 2008 last week but their `roll’ could easily came to a halt against the Roosters. The Bondi boys are without almost their entire starting pack - Willie Mason, Craig Fitzgibbon, Anthony Tupou and Nate Myles - due to Origin while the Eels are only missing Jarryd Hayne. Stand-in Roosters captain Braith Anasta and Eels halfback Brett Finch were both unlucky omissions for NSW and will look to prove a point to selectors by leading their sides in what should be one of the better games this round.

Key: Kicking game. The Roosters have scored more than half of their tries this year from kicks and out-of-sorts Eels winger Eric Grothe can expect a barrage headed his way.

Tip: Eels

SATURDAY

CRONULLA SHARKS v BRISBANE BRONCOS at Toyota Stadium, 5.30pm

Head to head: Broncos 24, Sharks 14

Last clash: Broncos 30 bt Sharks 16 at Suncorp Stadium (Rnd 20, 2007)

Footy TAB: Broncos +3.5 points

TAB Sportsbet: Sharks $1.65, Broncos $2.20

Cronulla have yet to win at home in two appearances this year but won’t get a better chance than a depleted Broncos side. Origin duties means the Sharks are without key duo Paul Gallen and Greg Bird while Brisbane are missing six plus injured skipper Darren Lockyer. With in-form forwards Ben Hannant and Sam Thaiday in Queensland camp the Broncos will look to former Test prop Joel Clinton and Ashton Sims to get them moving forward. The battle on the park is matched by the battle of wits in the coaches’ boxes, Ricky Stuart and Wayne Bennett two of the NRL’s fiercest rivals. Brisbane have beaten the Sharks in six of their past seven clashes.

Key: Brett Kimmorley’s kicking game and experience got Cronulla the points last week. He will again have a profound influence on this result.

Tip: Sharks

MANLY SEA EAGLES V NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS at Bluetongue Stadium, 7.30pm

Head to head: Sea Eagles 7, Cowboys 5

Last clash: Sea Eagles 28 bt Cowboys 6 at SFS (Prelim final, 2007)

Footy TAB: Cowboys +8.5 points

TAB Sportsbet: Sea Eagles $1.36, Cowboys $3.00

The last time Manly ventured to Gosford they put 50 points on Newcastle, and they could do just as much damage on a depleted and dejected Cowboys side. Without stars Johnathan Thurston, Carl Webb and Jacob Lillyman (Qld Origin) and Matt Bowen (knee) the Cowboys are ripe for the picking. Add Origin snubbings to three of Manly’s incumbents - Jamie Lyon, Brent Kite (NSW) and Steven Bell (Qld) - plus halfback Matt Orford’s futile quest for a Blues debut, and the Sea Eagles have the motivation and manpower to dominate the second-last Cowboys. Riding three successive losses, a fourth could almost end Graham Murray’s coaching career at the club.

Key: If any of Manly’s Origin rejects want to be considered later in the series they must dominate this game and put the Cowboys to the sword.

Tip: Sea Eagles

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS v MELBOURNE STORM at ANZ Stadium, 7.30pm

Head to head: Storm 14, Dragons 4, drawn 1

Last clash: Storm 28 bt Dragons 6 at Olympic Park (Rnd 15, 2007)

Footy TAB: Storm +3.5 points

TAB Sportsbet: Dragons $1.65, Storm $2.20

Nathan Brown has not had much luck in his NRL coaching career, but he won the jackpot by drawing the Storm this week as Melbourne are without EIGHT Origin stars as opposed to the Dragons three. But before anyone chalks it up as a gift two points for the red and whites, remember they are the NRL’s best side at clutching defeat from the jaws of victory. And Melbourne still have three Test players in their lineup, including one of the best halfbacks in Cooper Cronk. Melbourne have won their past seven against St George Illawarra and have never lost to the Dragons in Sydney.

Key: Composure. Without Gasnier, Cooper and Hornby will the Dragons have enough calm heads to win when they are expected to?

Tip: Dragons

SUNDAY

PENRITH PANTHERS v NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS at CUA Stadium, 2pm

Head to head: Panthers 12, Warriors 9

Last clash: Warriors 24 bt Panthers 20 at CUA Stadium (Rnd 25, 2007)

Footy TAB: Warriors +2.5 points

TAB Sportsbet: Panthers $1.70, Warriors $2.10

The Warriors are yet to win in Australia in 2008 and Penrith are just 1-3 at home this year. Anyone else think this could be a draw? Penrith’s gamble of putting utility Luke Lewis at halfback was such a success in last week’s thumping of the Bulldogs he will wear the No.7 again this week. But surely the fact this game will be played in the afternoon won’t lead to another ugly scrap. The Warriors are without Queensland centre Brent Tate, but prop Ruben Wiki should return. Penrith prop Petero Civoniceva is in camp with Tate leaving hooker Luke Priddis to assume the captaincy duties.

Key: Coming off the bye the Warriors have no excuses not to improve their away defence which has conceded 42 points per game.

Tip: Panthers

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS V WESTS TIGERS at EnergyAustralia Stadium, 3pm

Head to head: Knights 7, Tigers 5

Last clash: Knights 26 bt Tigers 24 at Telstra Stadium (Rnd 25, 2007)

Footy TAB: Knights +4.5 points

TAB Sportsbet: Knights $2.35, Tigers $1.55

Newcastle have won many supporters with their work ethic this year but face a massive test playing without their two best players in Danny Buderus (NSW) and Kurt Gidley (fractured cheekbone). Conversely, the Tigers are boosted by the return of their two stars Benji Marshall (knee) and Robbie Farah (back). Wests have won the past two visits to Newcastle, but coach Tim Sheens knows his men have a habit of squandering golden opportunities such as this. The Knights have improved their slow starts the past fortnight, holding both the NRL’s top two teams Gold Coast and Melbourne scoreless in the first half.

Key: Without anyone on rep duty and at near full-strength, there is simply no excuse for the Tigers not to dominate Newcastle.

Tip: Tigers

MONDAY

CANBERRA RAIDERS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS at Canberra Stadium, 7pm

Head to head: Raiders 7, Rabbitohs 2

Last clash: Raiders 16 bt Rabbitohs 10 at Telstra Stadium (Rnd 9, 2007)

Footy TAB: Rabbitohs +4.5 points

TAB Sportsbet: Raiders $1.55, Rabbitohs $2.35

Canberra is arguably one of the better performed teams at home in the NRL, except against the Bunnies who have won each of their four trips to the nation’s capital since reinstatement in 2002. Souths finally have confidence after their drought-breaking win before the bye and are boosted by the return of dangerous wingers Shannon Hegarty and Fetuli Talanoa. Canberra are riding three successive losses and are almost down to bare bones due to injury. Rake Lincoln Withers joined Phil Graham and William Zillman with season-ending knee injuries last week which has forced adaptable captain Alan Tongue to play hooker here.

Key: It has been 15 days since the Rabbitohs played after their inspired first win of 2008. Has the break helped or hindered momentum?

Tip: Raiders

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