Parramatta will meet the Sydney Roosters for the first time in NRLW history on Sunday with plenty on the line for both side's after each secured wins in round three.
The Eels can lock in a top four finish with a win against the Roosters while the Tricolours will need to back up their efforts against Newcastle or face a nervous final round with just one win on the board so far.
The battle of east against west will have a fiery feel to it with six former Roosters in the Eels line-up including stars Botille Vette-Welsh, Kennedy Cherrington and Nita Maynard.
After both clubs hosted home games last start, they'll be heading back up the motorway on Sunday with McDonald Jones Stadium the venue as part of a triple header with the Knights-Dragons NRLW fixture and Knights-Tigers NRL match.
Match: Eels v Roosters
Round 4 -
home Team
Eels
3rd Position
away Team
Roosters
5th Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
The Rundown
Team news
Eels: A change before kick-off with centre Jocephy Daniels dropping out and her place taken by Abbi Church. The new bench player is Christine Pauli.
Rikeya Horne, Nita Maynard and Sereana Naitokatoka have all been named to return after missing last week.
Naitokatoka is included on the bench alongside Shirley Mailangi with Emily Curtain maintaining the five-eighth spot for now.
Back-up hooker Therese Aiton required 25 stitches to a facial injury after the win over the Titans and will sit out this week.
Roosters: Star centre Jess Sergis is out, with Brydie Parker recalled to the side in her place. Sergis was in a moonboot earlier this week after suffering an ankle injury in last Saturday's win against the Knights.
Parker had been replaced by Taylor Mapusua on the wing after her recovery from a nasty cut near her eye in round one but she will now play in the centres after Sergis dropped out of the team named 24 hours before kick off.
Keilee Joseph is also out of the team named on Tuesday, with her place on the bench is taken by Simone Karpani.
Roosters coach John Strange has promoted Zahara Temara into the halves alongside Maori All Stars teammate Raecene McGregor with Jocelyn Kelleher moving to the interchange. Mya Hill-Moana and Tayla Predebon have switched places in the 17 with Sam Economos coming onto the bench.
Match: Eels v Roosters
Round 4 -
home Team
Eels
away Team
Roosters
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Eels is number 1 Botille Vette-WelshFullback for Roosters is number 1 Corban Baxter
-
Winger for Eels is number 2 Taina NaividiWinger for Roosters is number 2 Leianne Tufuga
-
Centre for Eels is number 3 Tiana PenitaniCentre for Roosters is number 4 Isabelle Kelly
-
Centre for Eels is number 15 Abbi ChurchCentre for Roosters is number 25 Brydie Parker
-
Winger for Eels is number 5 Rikeya HorneWinger for Roosters is number 5 Taylor Mapusua
-
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Emily CurtainFive-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Zahara Temara
-
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Maddie StuddonHalfback for Roosters is number 7 Raecene McGregor
Forwards
-
Prop for Eels is number 8 Filomina HanisiProp for Roosters is number 8 Sarah Togatuki
-
Hooker for Eels is number 9 Nita MaynardHooker for Roosters is number 9 Olivia Higgins
-
Prop for Eels is number 10 Kennedy CherringtonProp for Roosters is number 10 Mya Hill-Moana
-
2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Christian Pio2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Yasmin Clydsdale
-
2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Jamie-Anne Wright2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Olivia Kernick
-
Lock for Eels is number 13 Simaima TaufaLock for Roosters is number 13 Hannah Southwell
Interchange
-
Interchange for Eels is number 14 Seli MailangiInterchange for Roosters is number 14 Jocelyn Kelleher
-
Interchange for Eels is number 16 Sereana NaitokatokaInterchange for Roosters is number 16 Tayla Predebon
-
Interchange for Eels is number 17 Ellie JohnstonInterchange for Roosters is number 17 Samantha Economos
-
Interchange for Eels is number 19 Christine PauliInterchange for Roosters is number 18 Simone Karpani
Reserves
-
Replacement for Eels is number 18 Jocephy DanielsReplacement for Roosters is number 23 Joeli Morris
Match Officials
- Referee: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
Key match-up
Tiana Penitani v Isabelle Kelly: Former teammates at the Dragons and current teammates at the state and international level, the battle between the two centres on the edge will be among the highlights of the afternoon. Penitani has been among Parramatta's best across the past three weeks while Kelly terrorised the Knights last week. Both are dominant ball runners and possess speed when in space so will need to shut each other down at every opportunity.
Stat attack
Despite the extra win under their belt, the Roosters (15) have Parramatta (7) covered for line breaks this season while the Tricolours' post-contact metres (1259) easily eclipses the Eels' 865. Jess Sergis (4) and Isabelle Kelly (3) have seven line breaks between. Kelly and Yasmin Meakes are in the NRLW's top five for post-contact after three rounds.
And another thing
Eels star Botille Vette-Welsh produced the longest pass for her side in round three with a 22-metre effort travelling at 31.9 kilometres per hour.
