The Raiders will be smarting after pushing unbeaten competition leaders Penrith hard on Friday night but ultimately falling well short on the scoreboard.

Canberra have slipped to the edge of the top eight and will be eager to return home after winning just one of their past three games with their attack offering diminishing returns of 31, 20 and 10 points.

The struggle to score points has been matched by a defence that is also stuck in the middle of the table.

Parramatta will also be looking for redemption after a poor outing against the Dragons saw them lose their unbeaten status and slip to fifth on the ladder.

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The rundown

Team news

Raiders: Ryan Sutton comes into the starting side and Iosia Soliola goes to the bench in a late switch an hour before game time.

Hooker Josh Hodgson suffered a hip injury against the Panthers but has been cleared to play.

Centre Curtis Scott (ribs) will make his comeback from injury, sending Sebastian Kris to the reserves.

Caleb Aekins has come into the side at fullback in place of Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad (neck), who failed a HIA following a head knock he suffered in the first half against Penrith.

Veteran forward Ryan James (rested) is out of the 21-man squad with Joseph Tapine named at lock and Emre Guler the new face on the interchange. 

Matt Frawley and Dunamis Lui were omitted from the reserves 24 hours before kick-off. Corey Harawira-Naera was the last man cut an hour before kick-off and Kris is 18th man.

Canberra have kept the Eels tryless in their past two games at GIO Stadium.

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Eels: Ryan Matterson has been ruled out once again due to concussion symptoms, with Isaiah Papali'i starting in the second row and Wiremu Greig coming onto the bench in jersey 20 for his NRL debut.

Dylan Brown has been suspended for one game for a crusher tackle with his place at five-eighth taken by Will Smith.

Keegan Hipgrave has been recalled on the bench after being left out last week. Joey Lussick dropped off the extended bench on Friday night and Jordan Rankin was the last player cut an hour before kick-off. Haze Dunster is 18th man.

The Eels have not won in Canberra since 2006.

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Key match-up

Josh Papali'i v Junior Paulo: The two big men will be carrying a lot on their shoulders when they get ready to rumble at GIO Stadium. Papali'i stood tall and really delivered in the loss to Penrith but Paulo, after a huge start to the season, was one of many Eels who failed to aim up in the Dragons upset. He is currently equal fourth in the NRL for offloads and will be looking to reassert himself in that area to get the Parramatta attack rolling.

Stat attack

The Raiders are on a 10-game winning streak at home against Parramatta. The last time the Eels got the better of them in Canberra was round 17, 2006. Halfback Todd Carney scored a try and kicked two from two but it wasn't enough for the Matthew Elliott-coached Green Machine who fell 18-12.

 

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