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Parramatta roll into their heavyweight clash with the wounded Roosters in good form and determined to keep nipping at the heels of unbeaten competition leaders Penrith.

The Eels comfortably accounted for the last-placed Bulldogs on Saturday with skipper Clint Gutherson, winger Maika Sivo and a rejuvenated Bryce Cartwright starring in the 32-10 romp.

Lock Nathan Brown limped off with a suspected hip injury to put a slight dampener on proceedings but that was balanced out by the successful return from concussion of back-rower Ryan Matterson.

In contrast, injury bit the already hobbled Roosters hard in their otherwise highlight-packed 38-4 thrashing of the Knights later that evening in Newcastle.

Veteran winger Brett Morris, who was standing in as captain in James Tedesco's absence, and prop Lindsay Collins both suffered ACL injuries. 

The rundown

Team news

Eels: Nathan Brown (hip) is out of the Parramatta side, with Shaun Lane moving from the interchange to lock. Keegan Hipgrave comes onto the interchange bench and Wiremu Greig is the 18th man.

Junior Paulo has been restored as starting prop after a late switch with Oregon Kaufusi last week while centre Waqa Blake (calf) must wait at least one more week to make his comeback.

Joey Lussick and Jordan Rankin were omitted from the reserves 24 hours before kick-off.

Eels winger Maika Sivo has scored 27 tries in 26 games at Bankwest Stadium.

Roosters: Teen prodigy Joseph Suaalii is a chance of making his NRL debut after being named as 18th man. In a positional change announced an hour before kick-off, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves moves into the starting side with Siosiua Taukeiaho dropping back to the interchange bench.

Young Roosters forward Fletcher Baker is out of the 21-man squad after suffering an injury in the captain's run. The club has been granted an exemption by the NRL to replace him with Tuku Hau Tapuha, who has been assigned jersey No.24.

Lachlan Lam and Naufahu Whyte dropped off the extended bench on Thursday.

Roosters centre Joseph Manu will make his 100th NRL appearance.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
    Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco
  • Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo
    Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou
  • Centre for Eels is number 3 Tom Opacic
    Centre for Roosters is number 3 Josh Morris
  • Centre for Eels is number 4 Marata Niukore
    Centre for Roosters is number 4 Joseph Manu
  • Winger for Eels is number 5 Blake Ferguson
    Winger for Roosters is number 5 Matt Ikuvalu
  • Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
    Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Drew Hutchison
  • Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses
    Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam Walker

Forwards

  • Prop for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
    Prop for Roosters is number 8 Isaac Liu
  • Hooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney
    Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Ben Marschke
  • Prop for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
    Prop for Roosters is number 15 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Angus Crichton
  • 2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Ryan Matterson
    2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Nat Butcher
  • Lock for Eels is number 15 Shaun Lane
    Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley

Interchange

  • Interchange for Eels is number 14 Oregon Kaufusi
    Interchange for Roosters is number 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho
  • Interchange for Eels is number 16 Haze Dunster
    Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Adam Keighran
  • Interchange for Eels is number 17 Bryce Cartwright
    Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Daniel Suluka-Fifita
  • Interchange for Eels is number 18 Keegan Hipgrave
    Interchange for Roosters is number 24 Tuku Hau Tapuha

Reserves

  • Reserve for Eels is number 20 Wiremu Greig
    Reserve for Roosters is number 21 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii

Match Officials

  • Referee: Matt Cecchin
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Touch Judge: Todd Smith
  • Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated:

Key match-up

Ryan Matterson v Angus Crichton: Two veteran back-rowers with an appetite for hard work and a talent for finding attacking stats.

Matterson made a very encouraging return from a five-game concussion-enforced absence, getting through 80 minutes unscathed, while Crichton monstered the Knights right edge and was duly rewarded with his second try of the season.

Stat attack

Parramatta haven't beaten the Roosters in almost five years, scoring no more than 18 points and twice conceding in excess of 40 their four-match losing streak against the Tricolours.

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