Knights v Eels preview

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Wooden spoon play-off mid season?

The Eels remain nestled in the top eight for now but it's only a stay of execution as the team at NRL HQ wait for their submissions in response to the breach notice issued regarding their salary cap compliance. Parramatta are set to lose the 12 points accumulated so far which will reset their points tally to zero - and the long climb up the ladder begins. It's gone from bad to horrible to even worse for the blue and gold in the past month - the cap breaches, drama surrounding Kieran Foran's mental health state, and now drug possession charges against Foran's halves partner Corey Norman are mounting. And that doesn't even account for the loss of Nathan Peats to the Titans as a result of all the salary cap issues. On the field the Eels are 0/2 since the penalties were issued, and need to win at least 12 of their remaining 13 matches to be any hope of snaring an unlikely finals berth. It's looking dark.

But if you travel up the F3 to the land of the Novocastrian, things aren't much brighter. Just one win -  a gritty effort over the Wests Tigers back in the sixth round at home - and a draw with the Raiders (also at home) are all the Knights have to show this season. In most matches they've been found wanting with experience and skill, despite a truckload of effort. Not helping their cause is the loss of Dane Gagai to Queensland duties, while stand-in half Brock Lamb will miss at least 8 weeks with an ankle injury. There is good news - Sam Mataora returns to bolster the Newcastle front line, and exciting prospect Jaelen Feeney will partner Trent Hodkinson in the halves. Whether it's enough to get past a Parramatta side with a point to prove? That's a completely different matter.

Last meeting: Round 7 2015 - Knights 22 Eels 28

47 times these sides have met with Newcastle the leaders on a head-to-head basis, 26 wins to 20 with one draw. And since 2010, the Eels have won just once - a 28-22 win at Hunter Stadium last year. Parramatta's record at the ground is awful, however. They've won only 7 of 24 matches in Newcastle since 1988.

Who to watch: With Jarrod Mullen not expected back until the last month of the competition, the pressure to guide and execute for Newcastle falls solely on Trent Hodkinson. Playing alongside a revolving door of young prospects, 'Hokko' has his work cut out for him in a side that has plenty of energy but perhaps just not quite the talent to challenge the teams above them on the table. If Newcastle do jag a win in this one, or even again this season, Hodkinson will be key in delivering it. They looked immediately better with him back in the fold in last week's loss to the Wests Tigers.

With all the distractions in recent weeks, one constant for the Eels has been big Semi Radradra. Rumours of him being pushed out proved unfounded once Nathan Peats was moved on and he showed it in spades with a hat trick against Souths in their two-point loss a fortnight ago. While he was well managed by a clinical Melbourne side last Monday, it's hard to see the Knights defence doing the same. If the Eels hit their straps, watch big Semi have a field day.

The favourite: As with any team facing the Knights, Parramatta are comfortable favourites.

My tip: Our writing team has struggled tipping Knights games lately - mostly due to tipping upsets. Today, this writer is going to go with the money and tip Parramatta to win this. But it won't be as easy as everyone thinks. Eels by 4.

1. Jake Mamo 2. Cory Denniss 3. Sione Mata'utia 4. Nathan Ross 5. Akuila Uate 6. Jaelen Feeney 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Sam Mataora 14. Tyler Randell 16. Josh King 11. Tariq Sims 12. Pauli Pauli 15. Korbin Sims
Interchange: 9. Danny Levi 10. Daniel Saifiti 17. Mickey Paea 20. Lachlan Fitzgibbon

1. Michael Gordon 2. Semi Radradra 5. Clinton Gutherson 4. Brad Takairangi 19. Bevan French 6. Corey Norman 7. Kieran Foran 18. Daniel Alvaro 9. Isaac De Gois 10. Danny Wicks 11. Manu Ma'u 12. Beau Scott 13. Tepai Moeroa
Interchange: 14. Kaysa Pritchard 15. Peni Terepo 16. David Gower 17. Ken Edwards

Referees: Henry Perenara, Gavin Reynolds; Sideline Officials: Ricky MacFarlane, Jon Stone; Video Referees: Ashley Klein, Jason Robinson, Ben Galea