Dragons, Roosters clash for top four
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Roosters and Dragons will clash tonight for a possible top four spot (Getty Images). (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
The St George-Illawarra Dragons would leap-frog the Sydney Roosters and may secure a spot in the NRL top four with a win in the final round tonight.
The Dragons also need the fifth-placed Brisbane Broncos to lose at home to the Newcastle Knights to retain fourth position and gain a home semi-final.
Both games are being played on a crucial Friday night which will decide the last top four position.
The Sea Eagles, Storm and Sharks will battle it out for the minor premiership, with all three equal on 36 points, and Manly and Melbourne very close on for-and-against.
The Knights have plenty of motivation for tonight's game, giving the Dragons added hope that they can sneak into the top four.
A win over Brisbane would cement a place in the finals, but a loss would leave them vulnerable to being passed by the New Zealand Warriors who are on the same number of points, but are behind on a lower for-and-against tally.
The Warriors take on the Eels at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday night, and the Eels would need a very big win, and a heavy defeat for Newcastle, to have any chance of scraping into the top eight.
The Roosters will be hoping Anthony Minichiello's return from injury will give them a boost to keep them in the top four with a win tonight.
Dragon's Captain, Mark Gasnier, says he is happy that his friend Minichiello has made it back onto the field.
"It's obviously a boost to the Roosters but I think more so for Mini's well being," he said.
"I think he's been through a really, really rough patch, and I hope he gets through the game unscathed anyway."
St George-Illawarra's coach says the game will be difficult, despite the Dragons' form being much better than the Roosters' coming into the match.
"It's going to be a tough game," he said.
"It's like all the games, I mean if we can turn up and do what we've been doing and keep improving in some little areas as individuals, and as a team, I'm sure we'll go well.
"If you turn up there while the Rooster's aren't going so well, and they get their A game into gear, you're going to be in for a long night."
Tonight's games kick-off at 7:35pm (AEST) at the Sydney Football Stadium and Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
