Raiders warming into finals

The Raiders Premier League outfit will be aiming to reverse a couple of negative results against the Manly Sea-Eagles this season, when the two teams go head-to-head in their elimination semi-final this Sunday at Aussie Stadium.

The Raiders snuck home over the Jets in a thrilling qualifying final at Seiffert Oval last weekend, with a late barnstorming try by Jermaine Ale sending the game into extra time.

The Sea-Eagles are coming off a 52-12 hammering at the hands of the Dragons last weekend, while the Roosters dished up a 57-6 mauling of the Bulldogs and the competition-leading Eels performed a similar job against the Knights, winning in a canter by 52-16 in a very lop-sided first week of the Premier League finals.

The Raiders have met the Sea-Eagles twice this season, with Manly proving too strong on both occassions; the Raiders underperforming in their 30-6 defeat at Brookvale in round 6, and again disappointing in their final round home clash, where they went down 44-20.

They weren't at their clinical best last week against the Jets, but after snatching a confidence-boosting win at the death and looking at the make-up of the side you get the feeling that this talented Raiders outfit is close to breaking out of their shell and running away with a big win. Six of the starting 13 have played in the NRL so they also have one of the most experienced sides remaining in the finals.

With the Sea-Eagles just about on the rack after their humiliation at the hands of the Dragons, the Raiders are in prime position to put them away this Sunday.

The team will have their final hit-out at training today, before leaving for Sydney on Sunday morning.

RAIDERS TEAMSHEET: 1. WILLIAM ZILLMAN; 2. DAVID MILNE; 3. JACK PEARSON; 4. BEAU MUNDINE; 5. JERMAINE ALE; 6. TERRY CAMPESE; 7. TODD CARNEY; 8. WILLIE RASTON; 9. JARRED LAWRENCE; 10. RYAN BARTON; 11. BEN JONES; 12. ALAN ROTHERY; 13. RYAN HINCHCLIFFE

INTERCHANGE 14. GLEN BUTTRISS; 15. ALEX BLAYDEN; 16. MICHAEL HOWELL; 17. MARC HERBERT; 18. MICHAEL CHAPMAN; 19. UELESE FAUMUINA; 20. BRONX GOODWIN; 21. CY LASSCOCK; 22. JUNIOR SAU; 23. BRENTON LAWRENCE (6 to be omitted)