Top-eight race starts

The National Sports

SYDNEY: With four teams locked on 20 competition points and only six games to play, the fight to be part of the finals is on with the Eagles and Roosters to meet in the round-20 opener tonight (7.55pm kick-off).
The Sea Eagles (9th) and Roosters (8th) are two of those sides along with the Raiders (10th) and Dragons (11th), so this showdown between the boys from Sydney’s northern beaches and the Bondi brigade has massive ramifications.
Both sides are battling injuries to star players and bouts of inconsistency but are remaining well and truly in the hunt for a top-eight finish.
In the 37 meetings between the two sides in the National Rugby League (NRL) era, the Sea Eagles hold a slight 20-17 advantage.
The Eagles will play without Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Tolutau Koula, Josh Aloiai, Haumole Olakau’atu, Toafofoa Sipley and Josh Schuster standing themselves down due to personal beliefs towards the pride jersey.
In their absence, the Sea Eagles will have two debutants on the wing in Pio Seci and Alfred Smalley, while prop Kurt de Luis and second-rower Ethan Bullemor also join the starting side.
Forward leader Jake Trbojevic, hooker Lachlan Croker and back-rower Andrew Davey all return after missing round 19 due to the Coronavirus while Sean Keppie has been named on the bench. He is joined on the bench by James Segeyaro in his first NRL game since 2019 as well as Martin Taupau and Morgan Boyle.
Roosters star centre Joseph Manu (quad) is back on deck so Drew Hutchison slides to the bench.
Maroons prop Lindsay Collins’ return from the concussion he suffered in State of Origin game three so Matt Lodge goes to the interchange.
Roosters No.6 Luke Keary returned in style against the Knights with the game’s opening try, one try assist and 126 running metres.
Keary’s opposite number, Keiran Foran, meanwhile, is enjoying a stellar final season at Manly before he heads to the Titans in 2023. The 32-year-old has produced nine try assists and 14 line break assists and his defence solid as ever.
Meanwhile, Roosters skipper James Tedesco will be backing his in-form performance alongside Manu in what should tough battle for the Eagles missing key personnel for their must-win match to keep their season’s hopes alive.
— NRL