Preview: Wests Tigers v Roosters

VENUE & TIME: Sydney Football Stadium, Sat, September 11, 8.30pm (NZT)
COVERAGE: Sky Sport
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 17 – Roosters 10, Tigers 7.
LAST TIME: Round 8, 2010 – Roosters 12-8.
MATCH ODDS: TAB NZ: Tigers $1.87, Roosters $1.90

WALKING WOUNDED: The Tigers are still without strike centre Chris Lawrence (jaw) but hope to have him back by week three of the finals – assuming they are still alive and kicking. They are otherwise at full strength. The Roosters welcome back rookie centre Kane Linnett from a knee injury and have a fully fit roster at their disposal. Coach Brian Smith will trim his bench from seven to four shortly before kick-off.

FORM: Both sides enter the finals in great shape. There are no injury or suspensions to worry about and the recent form-line couldn't be much better. The Tigers won three in a row before losing narrowly to Gold Coast last round. But don't read too much into that result. The Tigers were down on troops and still almost got the Titans. They will take a lot of heart from that performance. The Roosters ended a worrying three- match losing streak with a round 25 win over Manly and backed it up with a clinical – if not overly convincing – win over the lowly Cowboys. Their trifecta of gongs at the Dally Ms on Tuesday night was a nice boost on finals eve and they go into this contest with truckloads of confidence.

WHO'S HOT: While the big men go at each other up front, rival five-eighths Todd Carney and Benji Marshall will ultimate decide the match. Both have been in outstanding form this season, with Carney winning the Dally M Medal and Marshall not too far behind him. There is not a struck match between them in attack, with stats revealing Marshall is at his most dangerous from inside his own half while Carney is deadly from short range. This game threatens to be the closest of the four finals and could come down to goal-kicking – a clear advantage for the Roosters. Carney's success rate is 81 per cent while Marshall is at 65 per cent. The Kiwi star has been in better form in recent weeks but can still pull out a shocker with the boot when it's least expected.
And don't under-estimate the impact rivals coaches Tim Sheens (Tigers) and Brian Smith (Roosters) will have on this match. They have spent over 1100 NRL games between them in the box and know what it takes to win finals matches. Smith believes this is his best chance to win that elusive first premiership.

WE THINK: Normally home ground advantage is such a big factor in week one of the finals but here it is inconsequential. In fact, apart from having to use the visitors' room, SFS tenants the Roosters will feel right at home. Both teams are wonderful to watch with ball in hand and the big men don't mind getting into the collision, setting the scene for a terrific contest. The sixth-placed Roosters know a loss could end their season while the Tigers are likely to survive should they lose. The Tricolours may be a little bit more desperate as a result. It's a real toss of the coin job and the old