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There's always a silver lining when two teams with 1-5 records over their past six matches meet – the run of outs will end for one of them.

Wests Tigers are now facing an uphill task to reach the finals, while the goal from here on in for the Bulldogs is to avoid the wooden spoon.

Sunday's meeting between the two sides is one Michel Maguire's side simply cannot afford to lose.

Wests Tigers scored a comprehensive 34-6 win over the Bulldogs when the teams met in round seven at Bankwest Stadium.

The Rundown

Team news

Wests Tigers: Star centre Joey Leilua left the club's bubble to attend to a personal matter in Canberra, placing him in doubt for Sunday's western Sydney derby, but on Thursday night he was cleared to return to the bubble.

In a minor re-jig to the bench, Chris Lawrence joins Asu Kepaoa as the players omitted 60 minutes before kick-off.

Alex Seyfarth replaces Thomas Mikaele (knee injury) on the interchange with Shawn Blore also dropping out of the squad on Saturday.

Hooker Jacob Liddle gets his first game since a horror knee injury last year, allowing Moses Mbye to return to centre and Tommy Talau to the wing.

Luke Garner is recalled in the back row and Josh Reynolds returns on the bench following the season-ending injury to Billy Walters. Wests Tigers are aiming for two wins in a season against the Bulldogs for the first time since 2005.

Bulldogs: Reimis Smith replaces Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who was dropped by Canterbury coach Steve Georgallis. Matthew Doorey is on the bench after Chris Smith was also left out. 

Kerrod Holland starts at centre for Jake Averillo, who picked up a hip injury in the loss to the Storm, while Jack Cogger replaces the suspended Lachlan Lewis at halfback.

The Bulldogs have lost their past four games at Bankwest Stadium.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Adam Doueihi
    Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Nick Meaney
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
    Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Joseph Leilua
    Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Tim Lafai
  • Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Moses Mbye
    Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Kerrod Holland
  • Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Tommy Talau
    Winger for Bulldogs is number 17 Reimis Smith
  • Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Luke Brooks
    Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Kieran Foran
  • Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Benji Marshall
    Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Jack Cogger

Forwards

  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Josh Aloiai
    Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Ofahiki Ogden
  • Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jacob Liddle
    Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Sione Katoa
  • Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Russell Packer
    Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Dylan Napa
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luciano Leilua
    2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh Jackson
  • 2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luke Garner
    2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
  • Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Matthew Eisenhuth
    Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Luke Thompson

Interchange

  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Josh Reynolds
    Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Jeremy Marshall-King
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Sam McIntyre
    Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Aiden Tolman
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 20 Alex Seyfarth
    Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Sauaso Sue
  • Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 21 Elijah Taylor
    Interchange for Bulldogs is number 23 Matt Doorey

Match Officials

  • Referee: Matt Cecchin
  • Touch Judge: Gavin Badger
  • Touch Judge: Jon Stone
  • Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated:

Key match-up

Adam Doueihi v Nick Meaney. After a very tough week, Doueihi will be hoping all he has to worry about this week is rugby league.

He has proven a great pick-up from the Rabbitohs. Over the past few weeks Meaney has arguably enjoyed his best run of form since joining Canterbury.

Stat Attack

The Bulldogs have reached 20 points in a match just twice this year – both times against the Dragons. In brighter news, the Tigers have scored at least 20 points eight times.

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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