Cronulla Sharks v Canterbury Bulldogs, 5.30pm Saturday, PointsBet Stadium

It’s difficult to imagine anything but one result. The mini-resurgence the Bulldogs had been enjoying under Mick Potter appears to have come to an end as thoughts drift to next year and Cameron Ciraldo. Cronulla, meanwhile, are in the frame for a top-two finish after blowing away Manly at Brookvale Oval. Siosifa Talakai is in for the Sharks and Tevita Pangai jnr is out for the Dogs, making this even more lopsided, on paper at least. Matt Moylan combined superbly with Nicho Hynes in his comeback match, and the Sharks will send off Andrew Fifita in style for the forward’s last home game in the Shire. Cronulla by 26.
Adrian Proszenko

South Sydney Rabbitohs v North Queensland Cowboys, 7.35pm Saturday, Accor Stadium

This will go down to the wire, and is important for both clubs. Souths need a win to guarantee a finals berth, and the Cowboys a victory to stay in the hunt for a top-two finish and home final. The loss of Tom Dearden is huge for the visitors. To make matters worse, Souths welcome back some troops, including rookie winger Izaac Thompson who is a big body and will help with the kick returns, and Kodi Nikorima will inject spark off the bench. Souths did well to hang in the fight with Penrith. They will need to do likewise against a genuine premiership contender. Souths by four.
Christian Nicolussi

Wests Tigers v St George Illawarra Dragons, 2pm Sunday, CommBank Stadium

Both sides are reaching deep into the top 30, and beyond, to fill out the team sheets for this one and neither can afford to cop a loss to compound already disappointing campaigns. Miserable is a more apt description for the Tigers, with the wheels coming off against the Roosters to the tune of 54 missed tackles and a record loss. Fijian back-rower Kitione Kautoga shapes as the latest Tigers debutant on the bench, at the very least he’s a physical specimen. The Dragons are missing plenty of regular faces, Jayden Sullivan starts at hooker in place of Andrew McCullough, with long minutes on the cards for the highly rated youngster. Not that he hasn’t already, but expect Ben Hunt to make a mockery of the $700,000-a-year offer the club has opened extension talks with. Dragons by 12.
Dan Walsh

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Gold Coast Titans v Newcastle Knights, 4.05pm Sunday, Cbus Super Stadium

What’s the old saying about saving the best for last? Ahem. Two teams for whom the season can’t finish fast enough, with the Titans trying to edge away from the wooden spoon with back-to-back wins at home. If their collapse in the final 20 minutes against a 12-man Dragons last week is anything to go by, it doesn’t augur well. Brian Kelly returns from injury and replaces the hobbled Patrick Herbert with Phil Sami needing to pass concussion protocols after his first-minute hit from Moses Mbye last week. Tyson Frizell (ribs) and Daniel Saifiti (COVID-19) are back for the Knights, while Enari Tuala is among the reserves after being dropped last week for missing the team bus. Titans by 4.
Adam Pengilly