First the stat: The last 15 times the St.George-Illawarra Dragons have faced off against the Canberra Raiders... the team from the nation's capital has won on 14 occasions and the last eight games in succession.
The good news for the Dragons is they are playing at WIN Stadium in Wollongong this Saturday night in Rivalry Round - where that single victory came in emphatic fashion 58-12 at the ground in Round 17, 2007. Plus they now have a former Raider tormentor in their midst in fullback Josh Dugan.
Dugan was one of the Dragons' best in their upset of the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Monday night and his presence this Saturday night adds plenty of extra spice to the contest given he was a member of the Raiders until earlier this season.
Canberra have been a force at home in 2013, winning all eight games they have played but on the road they have struggled mightily - winning just once in nine away games.
That stat coupled with the way the Dragons found a way to beat the Rabbitohs in golden point, surely fills the 14th placed home side with the confidence to not only beat Canberra this weekend but derail a remarkable rugby league streak.
Plus the Dragons are in a 'must-win' position for the rest of the season if they want to stay in the playoff hunt, so they won't be short of motivation to hand Canberra a long awaited defeat in Rivalry Round.
For the Canberra Raiders - they have plenty of motivation of their own going into this contest, however the main reason driving them will surely be that a win over the Dragons keeps them inside the Top 8 with six games to play.
Get your tickets for Saturday's game here
Jim Beam Smooth Move of the Week
It takes something special to knock off the competition leaders at the best of times - but Nathan Fien's superb pass through two South Sydney defenders to send Brett Morris over for the match winning try was right out of the top drawer. Fien's try assist not only consigned the Rabbitohs to a 22-18 defeat - only their third of the season - but it may have salvaged a glimmer of hope for the Dragons in their bid to play finals football in 2013.
