Dragons v Sharks: Finals within reach; Trindall eyes return

The Dragons are out to retain their place inside the top eight when they host local rivals Cronulla at WIN Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 

The match will be the first of a double-header, with St George Illawarra to take on the Sharks in an NRLW clash immediately after the men. 

It's the last game of the season in Wollongong for the Dragons and they're eager to finish on a high. 

Shane Flanagan's side climbed back inside the top eight with a 32-16 win over the Titans last Sunday and a win this weekend will go a long way to securing their first finals berth since 2018. 

The stakes are just as high for Cronulla as they look to retain their place in the top four and hold off a fast-finishing Bulldogs. 

The Sharks survived a scare last weekend to defeat the Knights in golden point and maintain their two-point lead over Canterbury. Such is the tight nature of the competition, Craig Fitzgibbon's side is level on points with the third-placed Roosters and two points behind the Panthers. 

Cronulla are likely to welcome back halfback Braydon Trindall for Sunday's clash after he missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury. 

Jack Bird stepped up for the Dragons last weekend in place of the suspended Kyle Flanagan and the utility will need to have another big game at five-eighth if they are to topple the Sharks.