Plenty at stake here as the Eels look to consolidate their hold on a top-four spot and the Raiders try to continue a revival which has seen them knock off Manly and Cronulla in consecutive weeks.
The Eels overcame the absence of key playmaker Mitch Moses to outclass the Gold Coast in round 18 while the Raiders powered away from the Sharks late on the back of brilliant performance by rookie fullback Xavier Savage.
The Raiders are outside the eight only on points differential and look to be gathering momentum at the right time of the season but they'll need to be at their best to turn around a 35-10 loss to the Eels back in round six.
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The rundown
Team news
Eels: The Eels are 1-17 with no late changes.
Mitchell Moses has been ruled out due to a back fracture suffered in Origin III so Jake Arthur will play halfback again this week.
Tom Opacic is also out and his place in the centres is taken by Will Penisini on debut, while Blake Ferguson has been recalled for his first game since round 12 at the expense of Haze Dunster.
Joey Lussick and Makahesi Makatoa were the first two players cut 24 hours before kick-off. Bryce Cartwright was the last man cut an hour before kick-off and Haze Dunster is the 18th man.
The Eels have won their past three games against the Raiders.
Raiders: Joseph Tapine has come in to the starting side in a late swap with Josh Papalii, who goes to the bench.
Matt Timoko is the new face on the bench but expect a late change there with Ricky Stuart likely to bring in another forward as per previous weeks.
Jordan Rapana moves to fullback after Xavier Savage was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.
Jack Wighton has been sidelined by a rib injury with Matt Frawley to replace the NSW five-eighth.
Siliva Havili and Trey Mooney were the first two players cut from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off. Ryan James is 18th man and Caleb Aekins was the last player cut.
The Raiders have lost all four games against top-four opposition in 2021.
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Key match-up
Dylan Brown v Matt Frawley: With Mitch Moses missing the Titans game it was left to five-eighth Brown to step up and he did it in style, scoring a sizzling solo try, running for 111 metres and kicking astutely. Frawley will play just his second game of the season with Jack Wighton sidelined by a rib injury and he'll be looking for a repeat of his round 17 showing when he and Sam Williams combined to spearhead an upset win over Manly.
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Stat attack
The Eels boast a powerful back three with Clint Gutherson and Maika Sivo joined by their old mate Blake Fergson who gets a recall this week. Gutherson and Sivo have made 31 line breaks between them in 2021 out of Parramatta's total of 97, fifth best in the NRL. By contrast the Raiders have had 72 line breaks and Jordan Rapana is their best with 10.
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