Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy will be without man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona as his side bid to keep their hopes of a top-four finish alive.
Off the back of an insipid defeat to Newcastle last week, Bellamy has been dealt a blow with giant prop Asofa-Solomona sidelined for Friday’s game against Parramatta with a dislocated finger.
Asofa-Solomona’s loss is compounded by the fact first-choice centre Reimis Smith has sustained a knee injury.
Smith’s centre partner Justin Olam has also not been named, forcing Bellamy to turn to Young Tonumaipea and Marion Seve.
The Storm are only in the top four on for and against and a slip-up against an Eels side, who have brought Andrew Davey into cover for Shaun Lane (elbow), will be keen to strengthen their own finals push.
Like Parramatta, South Sydney will be hoping to solidify their chances of a top-eight finish when they face Wests Tigers in Tamworth on Friday.
Souths have named Latrell Mitchell at fullback and hope there will be no repeat of last week’s false start against Brisbane.
The Tigers have brought Luke Brooks (hamstring) back into the halves alongside Daine Laurie as they seek to avoid a second-straight last-placed finish.
Charlie Staines also returns for Tim Sheens' side after suffering a perforated bowel earlier this season.
Fellow wooden spoon candidates St George Illawarra will fancy their chances of climbing up the table when they welcome a depleted Manly side to Wollongong for Daly Cherry-Evans 300th game on Saturday.
Toff Sipley and Matt Lodge start in the front row for the Sea Eagles with Taniela Paseka and Josh Aloiai out.
In Saturday’s final game, Matt Moylan remains out of Cronulla’s tough away trip to meet Penrith with Braydon Trindall preferred to wear the No. 6 jersey.
Sharks skipper Dale Finucane was ruled out for the rest of the season earlier this week after he underwent surgery on a biceps issue.
The Panthers will be without prop Spencer Leniu due to a knee issue.
Meanwhile, Tom Flegler slots straight back into Brisbane’s starting front row for Thursday’s game with a Sydney Roosters side who have lock Victor Radley back on deck.
Elsewhere, Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo has received a welcome boost with Viliame Kikau, Josh Addo-Carr and Toby Sexton all returning from stints on the sidelines.
The Dogs’ dreadful defence will no doubt have Dolphins flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow excited for Sunday’s game in Bundaberg.
Tabuai-Fidow shifts from centre to fullback for Wayne Bennett’s men as first-choice hooker Jeremy Marshall-King returns from a shoulder injury.
