Both big winners in Round 19, the Warriors and Sharks meet this Sunday in Auckland with the hosts eager to make a statement and Cronulla hunting a fourth-straight win.
The Warriors bounced back to winning ways with a 46-10 rout of the Eels for their 10th win of the year last Saturday, and while they sit sixth on the ladder they are yet to beat a top-four side this season, which makes the meeting with the second-ranked Sharks one of their most important games to date.
Following a 36-12 victory over the Wests Tigers last Thursday, Cronulla are now without a loss since June 11, but they'll face a different challenge this week after playing the competition's three lowest ranked teams in their past three games.
When they met earlier this year in Round 5 it ended up being one of the games of the season, with the Warriors overcoming a 26-6 deficit late in the first half to win 32-30 thanks to a last-minute penalty goal from Shaun Johnson.
Go back a year and both clashes between these sides belonged to the Cronulla, with the Sharks boasting 10 wins from their last 13 meetings with the Warriors, including three straight wins at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.
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Team News
Warriors: Shaun Johnson will take his place in the side in a boost given the birth of his second child is imminent. There are a couple of positional changes with Josh Curran moving back to the bench and Tom Ale to start up front, meaning Mitch Barnett moves onto an edge. Dylan Walker (arm) is good to go with Viliami Vailea listed as 18th man.
Sharks: There are no late changes for the visitors. Prop Braden Hamlin-Uele (ribs) was named among the reserves on Tuesday but dropped out when the squad was trimmed 24 hours before kick-off. His return could come against Manly in Round 21.
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Stat Attack
- Sharks fullback William Kennedy is neck-and-neck with Panthers custodian Dylan Edwards when it comes to being the best kick returner in the NRL. Kennedy heads into Round 18 averaging 73.8 metres per game on returns, just ahead of Edwards on 73.4
- In their last four wins the Warriors have scored 40 points on average.
- The Warriors are aiming for two wins in a season against the Sharks for the first time since 2010.
- The Sharks have won six of their past eight games against the Warriors.
- The Warriors have scored 30 points or more in four of their past five games.
- Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored eight tries in his past seven games against the Warriors.
- Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored 13 tries in his past 10 games.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the