Perth Spirit will meet the NSW Country Eagles in the NRC grand final after taking an 18 point win over the Sydney Rays on Sunday.
Final score
Sydney Rays 24
Perth Spirit 42
The Sydney Rays and the Perth Spirit will meet at Pittwater Rugby Park for the chance to play the New South Wales Country Eagles in the 2016 NRC Grand Final.
Coming off an eight-point win over fellow semi-finalists Melbourne Rising in their last fixture, the Sydney Rays are two games away from capping off a great season.
The Rays, who finished second on the table, have lost just one game all year, which came at the hands of the Country Eagles.
Sydney will be without Michael Wells, who injured his knee last week. However Damien Fitzpatrick and Matt Lucas come back into the XV.
Coming off a six-point win over the University of Canberra Vikings to secure their place in the semi-finals, the Perth Spirit have been on scoring form in recent weeks.
The Spirit will be boosted by the returning Luke Morahan who returns from Wallabies duty, but will be without Jonno Lance who is out with a bad hamstring.
Semisi Masirewa is set to make his first start of the season on the wing, he will be looking to impress and there is no better time to do so.
The last time these two sides played was earlier in the season. The Sydney Rays put on a defensive clinic, only conceding eight points in their 20-point victory.
Prediction
Sydney have proven to be a strong defensive side, but the Spirit have been in scoring form. The Rays are the favourites to make the finals, but this game should be closer than the last.
Rays by 5
Time: 3pm AEDT
Venue: Pittwater Rugby Park, Sydney
Last meeting: Sydney Rays 28 – 8 Perth SpiritSYDNEY RAYS: Ezra Luxton, Damien Fitzpatrick, Angus Ta’avao, Connor Vest, James Brown, Jack Dempsey, Chris Alcock, Michael Smith, Matt Lucas, Angus Sinclair, Harry Jones Irae Simone, Con Foley, Lochie Creagh, Josh Turner/Jonathan Malo.
Bench: James Hilterbrand, Rory O’Connor, Alain Miriallakis/Lawrance Hunting, Adrian Hall, Harry Bergelin, Dewet Roos, Sam Lane, Jonathan Malo/Seb Wileman/Richard Woolf/Dennis Pili-Gaitau.PERTH SPIRIT: Pek Cowan, Heath Tessman, Jermaine Ainsley, Kieran Stringer, Onehunga Havili, Ross Haylett-Petty, Richard Hardwick, Brynard Stander, Ryan Louwrens, Ian Prior, Semisi Masirewa, Ben Tapuai, Billy Meakes, Marcel Brache, Luke Morahan.
Bench: Anaru Rangi, Laione Mulikihaamea, Shambeckler Vui, Grayson Knapp, Russell Burges, Michael Ruru, AJ Alatimu, Eric Vasukicakau
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