Manly's stunning mid-season run has them firmly in finals calculations and looking to strengthen a long-shot top four bid against Wests Tigers.
The Sea Eagles racked up their 10th win of the season against the Dragons last round and have lost just four times since beginning their ascent from the competition cellar in round five.
Coach Des Hasler should have his big guns back for this clash, an enticing prospect given the way Tom Trbojevic has transformed the side since returning from injury. Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans has also been in superlative form during Manly's hot streak.
The side currently sits in fifth place with the injury battered Roosters just two points ahead and the fourth-placed Eels a further two wins away.
Wests Tigers enjoyed a massive boost to their hopes after three heavy defeats when they surged in the second half to romp home 42-24 against Brisbane.
The win has the joint-venture club just two points out of the eight but with a gaggle of rivals bunched ahead of them.
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The rundown
Team news
Sea Eagles: Jake Trbojevic (hip) and Josh Aloiai (wrist) have passed fitness tests and been ruled fit to play.
Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans are good to go after being rested last week.
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler opted for Toafofoa Sipley to start last week with Taniela Paseka adding impact from the bench and could do so again this match.
Moses Suli is 18th man, with Jack Gosiewski omitted an hour before kick-off. Cade Cust and Kurt De Luis were the two players to drop out 24 hours before the game.
The Sea Eagles have scored an average of 44 points per game since Round 14.
Wests Tigers: Alex Twal is out of the Wests Tigers team, with Alex Seyfarth taking his place on the bench.
Twal failed a HIA in the win over Brisbane and needed to undergo concussion protocols during the week.
Moses Mbye (ankle) remains in the squad.
There are no other concerns for the joint venture after Michael Maguire named the same 17 that got the job done against Brisbane last week.
Talau's centre partner Junior Pauga gets a start after scoring a try on debut while it's no surprise that Adam Doueihi will again wear No.6.
Michael Chee Kam is the 18th man, with Shawn Blore dropping out of the squad on game day. Along with Twal, Jake Simpkin was left out 24 hours before kick-off.
Wests Tigers have won five of their past seven games against the Sea Eagles.
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Key match-up
Kieran Foran v Adam Doueihi: The Sea Eagles veteran has surprised with both his form and ability to stay on the park since returning to Brookvale following injury plagued stints at the Eels, Warriors and Bulldogs. But he faces a challenge keeping Doueihi in check after the Lebanon international celebrated his return to the five-eighth position by ripping off an amazing five try assists against the Broncos.
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Stat attack
The Sea Eagles are tops in the NRL for handling errors with 177 - a ranking which is less an indictment than an indication of their commitment to attacking the opposition. Wests Tigers sit eight places behind Manly on the table but are far less prone to drops, ranking 12th in that category with 139.
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