The Sydney Roosters will this weekend host a Canberra Raiders side looking to prove their season is far from over following a record-less at home last weekend to the Melbourne Storm.
Trent Robinsons Roosters are in somewhat of a different position however with the Chooks flying high in first position and chasing their seventh straight victory on Saturday evening in their second last home match of the 2013 season.
The boys from Bondi showed their class in the second half of last weekends win over the Panthers, putting on an unanswered 42 points after allowing the Bondi Wall to be broken in the opening minutes by the Penrith side.
The last time the two sides met was back in Round 5 at Canberra Stadium, with the home side prevailing in an edge of the seat come from behind victory by just two points.
The loss at the time seemed to be the wake up Robinsons side needed with the Tricolours going on to win their next five straight and cement themselves as a true contender for the top prize in 2013, including wins over the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles.
Sonny Bill Williams, who has one week remaining on his two-match suspension, will be joined in the stands by skipper Anthony Minichiello who was this week ruled out for two-three weeks with a hyper-extended knee.
Minichiellos place at the back has been filled by young-gun Roger Tuivasa-Sheck which has seen a re-shuffle to the backline by Robinson including Shaun Kenny-Dowall heading to the win, Mitchell Aubusson to the centres and Aidan Guerra promoted from the bench and into the starting back row.
Guerras place on the bench has been filled by young prop Dylan Napa.
Napa burst onto the scene with a stellar debut performance back in Round 15 against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium and will undoubtedly be out to again show hes ready for the step up to NRL action after a strong showing over the last few weeks with NSW Cup side the Newtown Jets.
Canberra welcome back NSW star Blake Ferguson which sees Jack Wighton shift to the wing and Reece Robinson named as 18th man.
Trent Robinsons Roosters are in somewhat of a different position however with the Chooks flying high in first position and chasing their seventh straight victory on Saturday evening in their second last home match of the 2013 season.
The boys from Bondi showed their class in the second half of last weekends win over the Panthers, putting on an unanswered 42 points after allowing the Bondi Wall to be broken in the opening minutes by the Penrith side.
The last time the two sides met was back in Round 5 at Canberra Stadium, with the home side prevailing in an edge of the seat come from behind victory by just two points.
The loss at the time seemed to be the wake up Robinsons side needed with the Tricolours going on to win their next five straight and cement themselves as a true contender for the top prize in 2013, including wins over the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles.
Sonny Bill Williams, who has one week remaining on his two-match suspension, will be joined in the stands by skipper Anthony Minichiello who was this week ruled out for two-three weeks with a hyper-extended knee.
Minichiellos place at the back has been filled by young-gun Roger Tuivasa-Sheck which has seen a re-shuffle to the backline by Robinson including Shaun Kenny-Dowall heading to the win, Mitchell Aubusson to the centres and Aidan Guerra promoted from the bench and into the starting back row.
Guerras place on the bench has been filled by young prop Dylan Napa.
Napa burst onto the scene with a stellar debut performance back in Round 15 against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium and will undoubtedly be out to again show hes ready for the step up to NRL action after a strong showing over the last few weeks with NSW Cup side the Newtown Jets.
Canberra welcome back NSW star Blake Ferguson which sees Jack Wighton shift to the wing and Reece Robinson named as 18th man.
