Two sides hit hard with injuries will have their depth put to the test when they clash at CommBank Stadium on Friday night.
The Broncos face life without Adam Reynolds for the next few months after the skipper went down with a biceps injury against the Roosters on Friday while winger Jesse Arthars is also set for a stint on the sideline after suffering a broken jaw.
With understudy halfback Jock Madden also sidleined, how the Broncos handle the coming weeks could have a big impact on the rest of their season.
Coming off a bye, the Eels will be hoping a week's reset will help get their season back on track after losing four of their past five matches.
The Eels have plenty of injury concerns of their own with fullback Clint Gutherson (knee) joining halfback Mitch Moses (foot) on the sidelines as Brad Arthur looks to the next generation to keep Parramatta's season alive.
Sportsbet Betting Preview - Eels v Broncos
Team News
Eels: Joe Ofahengaue will start and Junior Paulo comes from the bench in the usual swap on game day. A change on Thursday with back-rower Bryce Cartwright dropping out after initially being named to return from a rib injury. Brendan Hands comes into the squad. Youngster Blaize Talagi will wear the No.1 jersey in the absence of skipper Clint Gutherson (knee) while Sean Russell is promoted to start in the centres at the expense of Morgan Harper.
Broncos: The Broncos are 1-17 with no late changes. The loss of skipper Adam Reynolds to a biceps injury sees 27-year-old Josh Rogers take over at halfback in his second NRL game. At the other end of the experience scale, Corey Oates plays game No.207 on the wing, coming in for Jesse Arthars (jaw). One new face on the bench with former Cowboy Jack Gosiewski coming in for his first game as a Bronco after joining the club last week.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Stat Attack
- The Eels have lost their last nine games without fullback Clint Gutherson.
- The Broncos have won three of their past four games against the Eels.
- The Eels have conceded 76 points in their past two games.
- The Broncos have won only one of four games at CommBank Stadium.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.