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Upstaged the previous week by the Dragons, Parramatta got their premiership bid back on track with last week's 14-0 shutout of Melbourne.

But was it sufficiently convincing considering the number of stars absent for the Storm?

Defensively the Eels kept their line intact, but they struggled to find their offensive mojo and Mitch Moses didn't have a good night with his kicking in general play.

Parra have to raise the bar on Thursday night against an in-form Rabbitohs side coming off last week's home demolition of Manly.

The Rundown

Team news

Eels: Andrew Davey replaces the suspended Marata Niukore on the bench. Stefano Utoikamanu and Haze Dunster dropped off the extended bench an hour before kick-off after Will Smith and Brad Takairangi were cut from the squad on Wednesday.

Rabbitohs: Centre Dane Gagai (hamstring) dropped out of the 17 on Wednesday with the club erring on the side of caution with his injury. Rookie Steven Marsters comes into the backline. Alex Johnston (head knock) is out with Corey Allan taking his place on the wing. Liam Knight returns on the bench in place of Kurt Dillon.

Jed Cartwright was the other player to drop out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off while Troy Dargan and Kurt Dillon dropped off the extended bench on game day.

The Rabbitohs are aiming for a fifth consecutive victory.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
    Fullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Latrell Mitchell
  • Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Corey Allan
  • Centre for Eels is number 3 Michael Jennings
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Campbell Graham
  • Centre for Eels is number 4 Waqa Blake
    Centre for Rabbitohs is number 19 Steven Marsters
  • Winger for Eels is number 5 Blake Ferguson
    Winger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Jaxson Paulo
  • Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
    Five-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Cody Walker
  • Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses
    Halfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Adam Reynolds

Forwards

  • Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 8 Tevita Tatola
  • Hooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney
    Hooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Damien Cook
  • Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
    Prop for Rabbitohs is number 10 Thomas Burgess
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Jaydn Su'a
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Ryan Matterson
    2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Bayley Sironen
  • Lock for Eels is number 13 Nathan Brown
    Lock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Cameron Murray

Interchange

  • Interchange for Eels is number 14 Ray Stone
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Mark Nicholls
  • Interchange for Eels is number 15 Andrew Davey
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Liam Knight
  • Interchange for Eels is number 16 Kane Evans
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Patrick Mago
  • Interchange for Eels is number 17 Oregon Kaufusi
    Interchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Keaon Koloamatangi

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
  • Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell

Last updated:

Key match-up

Mitch Moses v Adam Reynolds. Moses will be keen to bounce back to his best after an up-and-down performance last week. He needs to get his kicking and passing game right and pick his moments when to run. Reynolds has one of the best kicking games in the business and will be relishing the challenge against Moses.

Contenders or pretenders? Rabbitohs face Eels test

Stat Attack

The Eels claimed bragging rights in their only meeting with the Bunnies last year, turning a 14-2 half-time lead into a 26-14 victory in their round 12 clash.

Props Tevita Tatola and Tom Burgess were the only try-scorers for the Rabbitohs, while Blake Ferguson, Clint Gutherson, Maika Sivo and Josh Hoffman scored Parra's tries. Ferguson is in the midst of the longest try-scoring drought of his career and will be hoping for a change of luck on Thursday night at Bankwest Stadium.

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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