The Eels play the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium in Round 12 as both teams look to win back-to-back.
Here are five things you need to know about the game.
Back to ANZ Stadium
The Eels will travel to ANZ Stadium for the first time since Round 4 in April 2019 to play the Bulldogs.
It follows the recent cancellation of the Sydney Olympic Park redevelopment; with the stadium now open for business again.
The Blue and Gold have played a majority of their home and away games at Bankwest Stadium this year due to the changes around COVID-19.
History
The Eels have won seven of their past nine games against the Bulldogs.
The last time they played was Round One of this season, which proved to be a grinding tight contest.
The Eels eventually took home the two points with an 8-2 victory.
However, the Bulldogs like playing at ANZ Stadium, having won three of their past four games there.
Ladder movements
The 3rd placed Eels are looking to stay in reach of the top spot on the NRL ladder, which is currently held by the Penrith Panthers.
The Blue and Gold need the win to stop sliding further down the top eight.
While the Bulldogs could vacate their current last placed position with a win.
They can jump ahead of both the Broncos and Titans (points differential pending) with the two points.
Team Changes
Eel Ryan Matterson will sit the game out after suffering a head knock last Round.
Marata Niukore will start and Brad Takairangi comes onto the bench.
Kane Evans and Oregon Kaufusi return on the from injury while Ray Stone is still out recovering from a broken hand.
For the Bulldogs, Tim Lafai replaces Kerrod Holland at centre.
Jack Cogger and Sauaso Sue join the interchange in place of Brandon Wakeham and Renouf To'omaga.
NRL Indigenous Round
The Eels will play the Bulldogs wearing specially designed jerseys by Aboriginal artist Danielle Mate Sullivan, with input from Will Smith.
The artwork is called ‘Connection’ and represents the connection to the past and present. The large circle on the front of the jersey represents the meeting place for the players/warriors of the game, while the line to the top is a journey line to the players’ homelands.
There are four hands on the back that represent Eels indigenous players Blake Ferguson and Will Smith’s children.
The smaller circles are a nod to communities the Eels visit and work with. The past is represented by the warrior and the Parramatta River.
The Burramattagal people, who are a clan of the Darug, have a connection to this river where they first settled and caught fish, eels and other sources of food Colours from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags feature on the sides of the jersey.
