Two of the hottest teams in the NRL go head-to-head in a mouth-watering Saturday night clash in Townsville that has huge top-eight ramifications.
The Cowboys have won five on the trot to put themselves right back in finals contention while the Eels have won six of their past seven to climb to seventh on the ladder.
Todd Payten's men are coming off a strong win over the Sea Eagles in enemy territory, with Maroons stars Val Holmes and Reuben Cotter backing up in style just 72 hours after Origin III.
With a massive crowd behind them the Cowboys will be confident of making it six straight but Queensland Country Bank Stadium holds no fears for the Eels after a 24-20 win in last year's preliminary final in Townsville propelled them into the decider.
The Eels have recovered strongly after sitting 14th with a 4-7 record after 11 rounds but face a gruelling run home with games against the Storm, Broncos and Panthers still to come.
The Cowboys also come up against the Broncos and Panthers in the run home but with three of their next four games in Townsville they have a golden opportunity to surge into the top eight and have the top sides looking over their shoulder.
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Team News
Cowboys: No changes for the home side as Todd Payten goes with the same 17 that took care of business against Manly. Maroons star Reuben Cotter has been named to start and Jake Granville goes to the bench. Edge forward Heilum Luki (facial fracture) is a chance to return in Round 22.
Eels: Winger Maika Sivo (suspension) has been ruled out after he failed to get a downgrade on a Careless High Tackle charge and he has been replaced by Waqa Blake. The four-game ban handed to prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard sees Ofahiki Ogden start at prop for the fourth time this season.
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Stat Attack
- The Eels average 544 post-contact metres per game, the best in the NRL. The Cowboys rank 13th with 480 per game.
- Eels back-rower J'maine Hopgood leads the NRL in offloads with 41 and Parra's tally of 226 is the most by any team. The Cowboys have 130 offloads.
- The Cowboys have won their past five games at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
- The Eels have won four of their past five games against the Cowboys.
- Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater has scored five tries in his past four games.
- Eels fullback Clint Gutherson has scored seven tries in his past four games.
- Cowboys utility Jake Granville will make his 200th NRL appearance.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the