The Dolphins and Eels sit either side of the top-eight and a win in Round 17 could be the difference in being part of the finals action come September.
Wayne Bennett's men have found themselves languishing outside the eight after being blown off 4 Pines Park by Manly in Round 15 but will be desperate to turn the screws and finish the season the way it started as they hope to welcome back several troops this week.
Putting his side's disappointing performance in Manly simply down to a "bad day", Bennett will be hoping last week's bye is enough for his Dolphins to regroup and get back to their winning ways at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Meanwhile, Brad Arthur's side are riding high after claiming their fourth-consecutive win, despite halfback Mitch Moses and star forward Junior Paulo on Blues duty and Dylan Brown stood down.
However, yet to face the competition newcomers, the Eels will be leaving no stone unturned in the lead up to Saturday's Round 17 clash, knowing how capable the men from Redcliffe are of orchestrating an upset.
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Team News
Dolphins: Sean O'Sullivan will make his return from a pectoral injury at hooker with Kodi Nikorima and Isaiya Katoa in the halves. Jeremy Marshall-King (shoulder) won't feature, however, with Harrison Graham to debut in place of Max Plath. Fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow takes his place in the side after his Origin heroics on Wednesday night. Brenko Lee is out with a leg issue and is replaced by Valynce Te Whare in the centres. Josh Kerr comes straight onto a new-look interchange after securing an immediate release from the Dragons, while Brayden McGrady – who has scored 10 tries in 11 games in reserve grade this year – will debut on the wing.
Eels: Ofahiki Ogden will start the game and Blues prop Junior Paulo moves to the bench in a late switch an hour before kick-off. Mitchell Moses also backs up from his Origin performance on Wednesday night. Shaun Lane (hamstring) will be rested until after the bye next week where he will return.
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Stat Attack
- Eels winger Maika Sivo leads the competitions in tries, alongside Knights winger Dominic Young with 16 each.
- Eels back-rower J'maine Hopgood leads the NRL in offloads with 37.
- The Dolphins will play their first NRL game at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
- The Eels were crushed 56-10 by Manly in their only previous game on the Sunshine Coast.
- Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako has scored six tries in his past four games.
- Eels halfback Mitchell Moses requires 11 points to reach 1,000 points for the club.
- Wayne Bennett has won 13 of his past 16 games coaching against the Eels.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the