Manly's stunning mid-season run has them firmly in finals calculations and looking to strengthen a long-shot top four bid against Wests Tigers.
The Sea Eagles racked up their 10th win of the season against the Dragons last round and have lost just four times since beginning their ascent from the competition cellar in round five.
Coach Des Hasler should have his big guns back for this clash, an enticing prospect given the way Tom Trbojevic has transformed the side since returning from injury. Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans has also been in superlative form during Manly's hot streak.
The side currently sits in fifth place with the injury battered Roosters just two points ahead and the fourth-placed Eels a further two wins away.
Wests Tigers enjoyed a massive boost to their hopes after three heavy defeats when they surged in the second half to romp home 42-24 against Brisbane.
The win has the joint-venture club just two points out of the eight but with a gaggle of rivals bunched ahead of them.
Match: Sea Eagles v Wests Tigers
Round 19 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
6th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
12th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The rundown
Team news
Sea Eagles: Jake Trbojevic (hip) and Josh Aloiai (wrist) have passed fitness tests and been ruled fit to play.
Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans are good to go after being rested last week.
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler opted for Toafofoa Sipley to start last week with Taniela Paseka adding impact from the bench and could do so again this match.
Moses Suli is 18th man, with Jack Gosiewski omitted an hour before kick-off. Cade Cust and Kurt De Luis were the two players to drop out 24 hours before the game.
The Sea Eagles have scored an average of 44 points per game since Round 14.
Wests Tigers: Alex Twal is out of the Wests Tigers team, with Alex Seyfarth taking his place on the bench.
Twal failed a HIA in the win over Brisbane and needed to undergo concussion protocols during the week.
Moses Mbye (ankle) remains in the squad.
There are no other concerns for the joint venture after Michael Maguire named the same 17 that got the job done against Brisbane last week.
Talau's centre partner Junior Pauga gets a start after scoring a try on debut while it's no surprise that Adam Doueihi will again wear No.6.
Michael Chee Kam is the 18th man, with Shawn Blore dropping out of the squad on game day. Along with Twal, Jake Simpkin was left out 24 hours before kick-off.
Wests Tigers have won five of their past seven games against the Sea Eagles.
Match: Sea Eagles v Wests Tigers
Round 19 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom TrbojevicFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason SaabWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad ParkerCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Fetalaiga Pauga
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan HarperCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Tommy Talau
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben GarrickWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Ken Maumalo
-
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran ForanFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi
-
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela PasekaProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
-
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan CrokerHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jacob Liddle
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin TaupauProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 James Tamou
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Josh Schuster2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
-
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Thomas Mikaele
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dylan WalkerInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Joe Ofahengaue
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Josh AloiaiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Tukimihia Simpkins
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean KeppieInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Moses Mbye
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Toafofoa SipleyInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 20 Alex Seyfarth
Reserves
-
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 18 Mosese SuliReserve for Wests Tigers is number 18 Michael Chee Kam
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
Kieran Foran v Adam Doueihi: The Sea Eagles veteran has surprised with both his form and ability to stay on the park since returning to Brookvale following injury plagued stints at the Eels, Warriors and Bulldogs. But he faces a challenge keeping Doueihi in check after the Lebanon international celebrated his return to the five-eighth position by ripping off an amazing five try assists against the Broncos.
Stat attack
The Sea Eagles are tops in the NRL for handling errors with 177 - a ranking which is less an indictment than an indication of their commitment to attacking the opposition. Wests Tigers sit eight places behind Manly on the table but are far less prone to drops, ranking 12th in that category with 139.
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