Draw

The Eels host the maurading Raiders with everything on the line, as the two clubs meet for the first time in a finals series.

Can the Eels break a 13-year hoodoo to progress past week two to a preliminary final (first time since 2009')?

Will Moses play? Without Moses, it is likely a bridge too far fo the Eels. As soon as Moses went off against the Panthers, the Eels imploded beyond resurrection from 13-8 down to 27-8 in the final 20 minutes. They were a shrivelling shell of the first 46 minutes where they led 8-7.

Whilst the Eels will be licking their wounds following the Panthers' mauling, the Raiders are on a high overcoming the wilting Storm.

And yet, immediately after the Raiders' upset win over the Storm in the post-game presser, Stuart was already up to his usual tricks.

"We didn’t get any 50-50s and you need them".

“It’s easy for us. No one expects us to win, no one expects us to beat Parramatta at Bankwest."

Whilst it's true the Eels have had the wood on the Raiders in recent years winning 4 of the last 5, Arthur's Eels have a far poorer finals' record. Chaulk and cheese.

Arthur's Eels have won 2 from 9 in finals (2017, 2019-2022). In contrast, Ricky's Raiders have won 6 from 9 in their most recent finals' appearances (2016,2019,2020,2022).

Additionally, over the years the Raiders have troubled the Eels. Between 2016-2019 for three years, the Eels lost five straight.

If the true form guide was taken into account, the Raiders probably deserve favouritism.

In the last nine games, the Raiders have been statistically superior in both attack and defence to the Eels, and have been far more consistent. They have better form and momentum.

The Raiders have won 8 of the last 9 games only losing to the Panthers scoring at 30.2ppg conceding 17.8ppg.

In contrast, we have won 6 of the last 9 games scoring at 26.3ppg conceding 18.1ppg.

The Raiders form sees the likes of Disco Joe Tapine claim status as the best prop in the world. So, the battle in the middle will be intense. The Raiders are physical, aggressive, and will be in our faces all night - probably offside for good measure for most of the night. They are probably better nigglers, too, sailing close to the wind at times. And like us, they us direct attack with second-phase creativity. The Eels and Raiders are the top 2 offloading sides.

All in all, they will be hoping to frustrate us and ambush us into imploding.

It's going to be an intense, tough match, with explosive fireworks.