Round 25: Eels v Panthers preview
It is the battle of the west but more of a complete mismatch this time around.
Having shocked the Storm 22-10 last week, Eels coach Brad Arthur has decided to rest a host of big names before the finals.
Clinton Gutherson, Marata Niukore, Mitchell Moses, Dylan Brown, Isaiah Papali'i and Waqa Blake have all been given a week off while Junior Paulo is sidelined with suspension.
They join the already injured Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Maika Sivo and Reed Mahoney on the sidelines while Ryan Matterson remains suspended.
For some, the decision by Arthur is a strange one given the team's last-start victory over Melbourne.
Why not try build on that result and in a rivalry the side is bound to get up for?
On the other hand though, at least now Parramatta is guaranteed to enter the finals buoyed by that Storm victory.
This game now shapes as nothing more than an opportunity for lesser names to prove themselves and if it ends in defeat, so be it, the focus will quickly turn to finals.
A potential top-four spot is on the line for the Eels but that relies on Manly losing to North Queensland, which is unlikely.
In contrast to Parramatta, Penrith has named a full-strength line-up for Friday's match.
That decision does make sense given a number of big-name Panthers have already had enforced rests due to injuries, suspension and the taxing Origin period.
Last week's 30-16 win over the Tigers proved the Panthers still have a way to go in building fluency and cohesion in attack once more.
Resting key players would only hinder addressing that issue before the finals.
Penrith still has a shot at the minor premiership but require Melbourne to lose to Cronulla.
Last meeting: Round 16 2021 - Panthers 13 Eels 12
Who to watch: If Parramatta is any chance of causing a boilover on Friday, it has to come from former Panther Bryce Cartwright. The bench forward has come a long way under Arthur's guidance this season.
Too often for Cartwright it was pass or ball-play first, run second. In his role up front though the focus had to be on simply taking the ball up hard like any other forward before chancing his hand.
Without the majority of Parramatta's first-choice forward pack, Cartwright will need to be a spark on the edge and offer the second-phase play the likes of Paulo and Matterson are known for.
Against a weakened Eels outfit, look for James Fisher-Harris to really lay the platform for Penrith early. Fisher-Harris is one of the Panthers who will benefit from an extra game from the finals.
Having exited the bubble last month, the Penrith prop missed plenty of action but has quickly been building up his match fitness.
Parramatta may be understrength but the Western Sydney rivalry is always still fiercely contested and Friday will be no exception. Fisher-Harris will be right in the thick of it.
The favourite: Penrith is incredibly well-backed to take down Parramatta.
My tip: The Eels could have continued to build momentum ahead of the finals with a third-straight victory but instead it is hard to see this being close.
Penrith may start slow but should finish well on top in the end. Penrith by 24.
