Avoiding picking up the wooden spoon for the first time in their history as an NRLW club is the motivation for the Eels this week, while the Sharks look to earn a fourth win in their maiden campaign.
It's been a sobering fall from grace for Parramatta in 2023 after playing in the Grand Final 12 months ago, with things failing to click for their new-look roster which has experienced some untimely injuries.
In addition to needing to beat the Sharks, the Eels will require the Cowboys to lose and then still need to make up a large gap in differential points in order to avoid a last-placed finish.
Meanwhile, despite other results meaning a 16-8 win over the Dragons last week wasn't enough for the Sharks to keep their finals hopes alive, there has been plenty to like from them in their first season.
The Eels were narrow 28-22 losers in their only prior game at GIO Stadium earlier this year, while Cronulla have lost three of their four games away from PointsBet Stadium in 2023.
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Team News
Eels: Changes on Saturday saw Monique Donovan come into the centres for Lindsay Tui, who reverts to be 18th woman, and Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis take over at prop from Tyla Amiatu. The new face on the bench is Madeline Jones in jersey No.20. There were no further changes an hour from kick-off.
Sharks: No late changes, with Tony Herman to field an unchanged squad for the side's final clash of the season after a victory against the Dragons last week. Holli Wheeler is free to play after accepting a warning for Dangerous Contact in Round 8. Five-eighth Emma Tonegato has been at her running best in the last fortnight, with three line breaks and 170-plus running metre efforts in both games.
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Stat Attack
- Emma Tonegato's 87 line engagements this year are 13 more than the next best in the competition.
- With 142 dummy-half runs through eight games, the Eels run from the ruck more than any other side this year.
- The Sharks average a competition-high 519.9 post-contact metres per game.