Arguably the match of the round pits two top-five teams against each other in the top end as the Eels make their annual pilgrimage to Darwin.
The Eels shook off both their shocking backline injury toll and a scrappy Easter Monday loss to Wests Tigers to put together a hugely disciplined and professional 80 minutes against the Knights.
Meanwhile this year's surprise packets the Cowboys continue to impress, proving far too strong for a disappointing Titans outfit in Anzac Round.
The standard goes up this week but the North Queenslanders should adapt well to Darwin's heat and humidity; it's a ground they have won two of their three previous trips while the Eels have won six of seven - with their only loss coming against the Cowboys in 2017.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Eels v Cowboys
Match Rundown
Team news
Eels: The Eels are 1-17 with no late changes. Brad Arthur has gone with the same team that downed Newcastle, with Dylan Brown again in the centres.
Cowboys: Late changes an hour before kick-off with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow joining the bench in jersey No.19 having recovered from a knee injury. Jake Granville drops back to 18th man. Reuben Cotter and Tom Gilbert move into the starting side and Coen Hess and Heilum Luki go to the bench.
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Key match-up
Nathan Brown v Jason Taumalolo: Brown has worked into the season nicely for Parramatta after a delayed start while Cowboys wrecking ball Taumalolo has really come into some form over the past few weeks. Brown possesses a bit more ball-playing finesse than the North Queensland skipper, who on his day is one of the most damaging ball-carriers in the NRL.
Stat attack
In-form Eels halfback Mitch Moses continues to stretch his lead atop the season try-assist tally, with one more against the Knights taking him to 13 - five clear of next-best Cameron Munster and Ben Hunt.
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