It's second versus third as Craig Fitzgibbons' Sharks host Kevin Walters' Broncos with both sides hoping to knock the Panthers off the top of the Telstra Premiership ladder.
Brisbane went about their business in clinical fashion against the Warriors and got the job done even without five of their big-name stars on Origin duty.
How many of those players back up after Wednesday's series opener remains to be seen but the Broncos' depth was on display last Saturday with young guns Deine Mariner, Jordan Riki and Ezra Mam standing tall in the Origin-hit Brisbane side.
Meanwhile, coming off a bye, the Sharks will be hoping to have fixed some defence lapses which have crept into their game this season but should be confident heading into Saturday's match after recording three straight wins following their Round 6 bye earlier this season.
Cronulla will be hoping star halfback Nicho Hynes can back up 72 hours after making his Origin debut but they have a readymade replacement in Braydon Trindall.
In last year's meeting the Broncos prevailed with a 16-7 win at Suncorp, but having won their last two games at home, the Sharks are the favourites to get the job done in front of the Cronulla faithful.
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Team News
Sharks: No changes when the Sharks team was finalised 60 minutes before halftime, with star halfback Nicho Hynes set to take his place after getting just 12 minutes of game time in Origin One. The return of Siosifa Talakai (neck) in the centres means there is no room for Connor Tracey, who drops back to the reserves. The interchange remains unchanged from that which took the field in Round 12, with Cameron McInnes (hand) still another week or two away.
Broncos: Corey Oates returns from a knee injury to replace Selwyn Cobbo, who copped a knock to his hip in Wednesday's State of Origin opener. Fellow Maroons Pat Carrigan, Thomas Flegler and Reece Walsh will all take their spots against the Sharks, along with NSW prop Payne Haas.
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Stat Attack
- The Sharks are equal leaders with the Rabbitohs for line breaks made this season with 70.
- The Sharks have not defeated the Broncos at PointsBet Stadium since 2016.
- The Broncos have won eight of their past 10 games against the Sharks.
- Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored 19 tries in 18 games at PointsBet Stadium.
- The Broncos have not won back-to-back games since Round 8.
- Sharks fullback William Kennedy has scored 11 tries in his past 10 games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.