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In a game with huge finals implications, the Penrith Panthers host the Wests Tigers at the foot of the mountains. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).
Form for the Tigers has been exceptional since the decision was made by coach Jason Taylor a couple of weeks ago to drop hooker Robbie Farah.
While they went down to the Gold Coast Titans in a crucial match last week, they were on a winning streak before that and have been playing better football at the back end of the season.
The Panthers have also been in solid form with the club being on a two-match winning streak and staying competitive in a number of prior matches as they have been all season really.
Penrith have looked to be playing a much better quality of football in the last couple of weeks and that will be really put to the test in this one, with their wins coming against the Roosters and Knights who are both at the wrong end of the table.
So while form looks good for both teams, there is no questioning this is an important game to prove it against a better opposition.
Given their position on the ladder, both sitting around the top eight it becomes even more high stakes.
In team news, the Panthers have extended their interchange bench to five with the addition of Moses Leota while the Tigers welcome back Luke Brooks in the halves while both Jack Littlejohn and James Tedesco are out – that brings Josh Addo-Carr and Michael Chee-Kam into the side with Jordan Rankin to play fullback.
For the Tigers, losing Tedesco will be an absolutely massive blow after he had his jaw broken last week. It is doubtful he will be back at any point this year, though, so the pressure to stand up falls squarely on the shoulders of Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks.
If they can’t pick up their game, and their forwards can’t dominate up the middle of the park to make life easier for them then it is going to be a long finish to the season without their superstar fullback on the park.
At the same time, the Panthers forward pack is an incredibly strong one and so this will be a real test for the Tigers – with names like Regan Campbell-Gillard, Leilani Latu, Suaia Matagi and Trent Merrin they expect to dominate the middle every week.
When the sides met back in Round 17 at Homebush, it was the Tigers who came away with an important victory by eight points, 34-26. With plenty of points scored that day, and both teams loaded with attacking talent we should expect another entertaining fixture.
Prediction
The Tigers on the back of Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks will probably get the job done and give their finals chances a massive boost.
Tigers by 8.
Join The Roar for live coverage of this all-important NRL match from 7:50pm (AEST) and don’t forget you can get involved by leaving a comment below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde