Titans v Eels preview

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Last chance saloon for Parramatta.

Tipped by many to finish 2016 with the wooden spoon, the Gold Coast Titans have proven themselves to be the competition dark horses to sit inside the top eight with seven rounds remaining. Coming off the back of a dominant 32-12 win over the Dragons, coach Neil Henry will be looking for more of the same from his charges as the Titans look to secure their first finals appearance since 2010. With Greg Bird out suspended, impressive forward Agnatius Paasi will start at lock allowing Nathaniel Peteru to come onto the bench for only his second game of the season. Holding a strong record over the Eels in recent seasons with five wins from seven clashes, the Titans will have their sights set on continuing their surge towards securing a top eight finish.

Through every controversy that has befallen them this season, the one constant for Parramatta supporters has been the on-field performance of their team. However with the stakes at an all-time high, Saturday night's game shapes as a must-win encounter for the Eels if they are to feature in September. In a major blow, representative centre Michael Jennings has been ruled out after sustaining a hamstring injury last Sunday, allowing former Titan Brad Takairangi to make his long-awaited return after several false starts. Corey Norman remains sidelined after being stood down by the club, forcing Clinton Gutherson to remain in the halves, while Kenny Edwards has been named to start in the second row. Sitting four wins outside the top eight the Eels cannot afford a loss, but with a win on Saturday they may be able to stage one of the great comebacks in NRL history.

Last meeting: Round 14 2016 - Eels 22 Titans 12

Who to watch: In a side full of unfashionables, backrower Zeb Taia embodies the spirit of the Titans as a side making their presence felt against the odds. Having spent the past three seasons in France, many questioned whether the 31-year-old Kiwi representative was capable of making an impact in the NRL, but just like the Titans themselves, Taia has continued to impress all season. With a high work rate in attack and defence, the former Knight may not be the biggest name in the league, but what he lacks in reputation he more than makes up for with on-field performances.

In a season of turmoil for Parramatta, the development of Clinton Gutherson has been a shining light. Having sustained a series of injuries during his time at Manly, a change of scenery has proven the remedy required for the 21-year-old to make a mark in the NRL. Primarily playing on the wing or centres this season, his shift into the halves last week proved an astute move by Brad Arthur, adding a new dimension to both the Eels and his own individual performance. With the stakes at an all-time high for Parramatta, Gutherson may prove to be a crucial figure in keeping the Eels top eight aspirations in tact.

The favourite: Having dismantled the Dragons last Friday, the Titans are favoured to continue their run towards September with a strong showing over the embattled Eels.

My tip: With matches against competition heavyweights to come, the Titans need to come away with two points to keep their finals hopes alive. Titans by 7.

1. David Mead 2. Anthony Don 3. Josh Hoffman 4. Konrad Hurrell 5. Nene Macdonald 6. Tyrone Roberts 7. Ashley Taylor 8. Luke Douglas 9. Nathan Peats 10. Ryan James 11. Zeb Taia 12. Chris McQueen 13. Agnatius Paasi
Interchange: 14. Eddy Pettybourne 15. Leivaha Pulu 16. Nathaniel Peteru 17. Nathan Friend

1. Michael Gordon 2. Bureta Faraimo 3. Manu Ma'u 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Bevan French 6. Clinton Gutherson 7. Jeff Robson 8. Danny Wicks 9. Isaac De Gois 10. Tim Mannah 11. Ken Edwards 12. Tepai Moeroa 13. Beau Scott
Interchange: 14. Rory O'Brien 15. Peni Terepo 16. David Gower 17. Daniel Alvaro

Referees: Grant Atkins, Chris Sutton; Sideline Officials: Michael Wise, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski; Video Referees: Luke Patten, Bryan Norrie, Jared Maxwell