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'Our turf' - Eels treating away game like home in Benji's 300th

Parramatta will enter unfamiliar territory at Bankwest Stadium on Sunday with the Wests Tigers to host the Blue & Gold army in Benji Marshall's 300th NRL appearance.

The Parramatta venue has already been shared with the Tigers hosting games against Canberra, South Sydney and the Roosters over the past six weeks.

Parra will use the away dressing room and are unable to train at the stadium for their final hit-out before the clash.

Canterbury will soon join in on the Bankwest hosting duties on August 3, welcoming the Panthers in round 20.

The sharing agreement makes for an odd preparation for the Eels, with several players admitting on Thursday they're treating it like a home clash.

The Wests Tigers have used their social media slogan strategically this season, running with the term "Our Jungle" throughout the year.

"I have seen that but we don't look too much into it, they can do whatever they like to try and get people through the gates, that's obviously their own media team going with that," Eels prop David Gower told NRL.com.

Wests Tigers have called Bankwest Stadium "Our Jungle".
Wests Tigers have called Bankwest Stadium "Our Jungle". ©Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos

"It's great to have an away game at Bankwest, we've turned it into a fortress. It's been our home ground for 75 years that same spot. It's an away game on paper but a home game in our book. It's a game we must win."

Parramatta humiliated the Tigers 51-6 to christen the stadium on Easter Monday in April.

But the joint venture will have different ideas on a special day for club legend Marshall, who will become the 38th player to reach the milestone.

"It's a great achievement for him to reach 300 games," Eels forward Nathan Brown told NRL.com.

"He was in the team when I made my NRL debut at the Tigers and they'll all want to play well for him. You can never underestimate those milestone matches.

"He was a quiet guy when I was there but his leadership and presence was always felt. I respected him and he was great for Mitch Moses and [Luke] Brooksy coming through their system."

Brown missed the 45-point slaughter against his former club in round six after sitting out the first half of his season was hampered by a pectoral injury. He expects the Tigers to come back firing from the loss.

The Eels are entrenched in the top eight but have several clubs including the Tigers, Panthers and Sharks on their tail.

A gutsy come-from-behind win after trailing 18-0 against the Raiders before the bye round elevated them to seventh spot with clashes against sides in a similar position to come over the next month of the competition.

"We're doing OK," Brown said.

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"This is where it starts getting to the business time of the year after Origin and cementing that position in the eight is on the minds of every team.

"We've got a good couple of months here to put in and make this season a success."

The Eels are confident NSW winger Blake Ferguson will back up following his Origin III heroics.

Acknowledgement of Country

Parramatta Eels respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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