Battle for the 8: It's all on the line in the fight for September

The race for the minor premiership will take centre-stage this weekend when four competition heavyweights go toe-to-toe on a bumper Friday night. 

The Panthers will travel to Auckland to face the Warriors at a sold-out Go Media Stadium before the Roosters host the in-form Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium in one of the biggest nights of the season. 

The next fortnight will have a big bearing on who wins the minor premiership, with Penrith to face the Roosters in a Thursday-night blockbuster next weekend. 

Before then, however, Round 23 will see multiple sides put their title credentials on the line. 

A big crowd is set to descend on Allianz Stadium for the Roosters Indigenous Round clash with the Bulldogs, who have won seven from their past nine to surge into the top eight. 

The competition remains as close as ever with just 10 points separating second and 11th, and 13 teams still in the mix to finish in the top eight. 

With five rounds remaining in the regular season, every match has taken on greater importance as clubs battle to keep their finals hopes alive. 

This is how every finals contender is shaping up in the final five weeks of the NRL season. 

1st Panthers - 36 points, +308 for and against

Penrith set the stage for a season-defining fortnight with a dominant victory over the Raiders last weekend. The win maintained their two-point lead at the top of the ladder leading into Friday's showdown with the Warriors. The Panthers will then host the Roosters next Thursday, with the two matches to play a big role in determining the minor premiership. Penrith edged the Warriors in a high-quality affair earlier this season and Friday's clash promises to be another tense contest in front of a sold-out crowd in Auckland. Star fullback Dylan Edwards remains sidelined with a shoulder injury, however he is expected back in the coming weeks. Young gun Jaxen Edgar has done a fine job in his absence.

This week: Warriors v Panthers, Friday 6pm (8pm NZST) at Go Media Stadium

Next week: Panthers v Roosters, Thursday August 13 7.50pm at CommBank Stadium

2nd Roosters - 34 points, +155

The Roosters gave their for and against a major boost with last week's 82-12 trouncing of the Cowboys. The win sent a major statement that Trent Robinson's men are not messing around as they chase this year's premiership. The Roosters have spent this week bunkered down in camp on the Central Coast as they prepare for a Friday-night showdown with the in-form Bulldogs before next week's top-of-the-table clash with the Panthers. Win both games and the Roosters will be one step closer to the minor premiership. The Roosters have also received a major boost, with James Tedesco named to take his place in the team despite suffering an ankle injury last week. 

This week: Roosters v Bulldogs, Friday 8pm at Allianz Stadium

Next week: Panthers v Roosters, Thursday August 13 7.50pm at CommBank Stadium

3rd Warriors - 32 points, +226

The Warriors steadied the ship last weekend with a commanding 42-6 win over the Titans in the perfect tune up for Friday's showdown with the Panthers. Andrew Webster's men came up short when the sides faced off in Round 13 but they have shown plenty of signs that they're capable of toppling Penrith. A rabid home crowd will provide plenty of support, with the match selling out weeks ago. Given the congestion on the ladder, the Warriors risk dropping out of the top four with a loss and can't afford to slip up. 

This week: Warriors v Panthers, Friday 6pm (8pm NZST) at Go Media Stadium

Next week: Broncos v Warriors, Saturday August 15 7.35pm at Suncorp Stadium

4th Sharks - 32 points, +177

Cronulla were clinical in last week's 32-16 victory over the Rabbitohs and they continue to build nicely towards the finals. The Sharks have won nine of their last 10 leading into Sunday's local derby with the Dragons at Kogarah. A late season loss to St George Illawarra last year cost Cronulla a top-four finish and they will be desperate to avoid a similar fate this weekend. Halves Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall continue to pull the strings, with Hynes approaching Hazem El Masri's NRL record for most consecutive successful kicks at goal and Trindall leading the league in try assists.

This week: Dragons v Sharks, Sunday 4.05pm at St George Venues Jubilee Stadium

Next week: Sharks v Raiders, Saturday August 15 3pm at Ocean Protect Stadium

5th Dolphins - 30 points, +90

The Dolphins got the job done in Wollongong last week, Isaiya Katoa making a successful return from a wrist injury to lead his side past a spirited Dragons team. The result keeps the pressure on the Sharks and Warriors as the Dolphins chase a top-four finish and a maiden finals berth. The stakes will be high on Saturday evening as the Dolphins face the Broncos in the Battle of Brisbane. The Dolphins have defeated their rivals just once since entering the competition and will need to be at their best to prevail at a packed Suncorp Stadium. While they sit fifth, they are still just four points above ninth and need to keep winning to remain inside the eight.

This week: Dolphins v Broncos, Saturday 5.30pm at Suncorp Stadium

Next week: Sea Eagles v Broncos, Friday August 14 6pm at 4 Pines Park

6th Knights - 28 points, +60

Newcastle steadied the ship with a dominant victory over the Broncos last weekend, snapping a three-game losing streak to climb to sixth on the ladder. It was an important win and showed the Knights can still be a premiership force without representative stars Dylan Brown and Dylan Lucas. Kalyn Ponga was at his electrifying best at Suncorp Stadium and will look to carry this team deep into September. Sunday's clash with the desperate Raiders is a tricky one but Newcastle need a win to remain in touch with the top four.  

This week: Raiders v Knights, Sunday 2pm at GIO Stadium

Next week: Knights v Titans, Sunday August 16 2pm at McDonald Jones Stadium

7th Rabbitohs - 26 points, +62

Consistency continues to be the biggest challenge for the Rabbitohs, who were outplayed by Cronulla last weekend. The loss relegated South Sydney to seventh on the ladder and leaves them sitting precariously near the edge of the eight. Saturday's Indigenous Round clash against the Eels provides a chance to rebound with a host of troops set to return at Allianz Stadium. Cameron Murray, Tallis Duncan and David Fifita are all back on deck as the race to the finals heats up. 

This week: Rabbitohs v Eels, Saturday August 8 7.35pm at Allianz Stadium

Next week: Bulldogs v Rabbitohs, Friday August 14 8pm at Accor Stadium

8th Bulldogs - 26 points, -44

The Bulldogs have won seven of their past nine to surge into the top eight and are the hottest team in the competition at the moment. A tight win over Melbourne last week lifted Canterbury to eighth place and Friday's showdown with the Roosters is a chance to prove they are a genuine premiership contender. Stephen Crichton's move to five-eighth continues to pay dividends, while the return of star back-rowers Jacob Preston and Viliame Kikau has lifted the team to a new level. 

This week: Roosters v Bulldogs, Friday 8pm at Allianz Stadium

Next week: Bulldogs v Rabbitohs, Friday August 14 8pm at Accor Stadium

9th Cowboys - 26 points, -98

It was a tough watch for Cowboys fans last week as their side suffered a historic 82-12 loss to the Roosters that relegated North Queensland to ninth on the ladder. The Cowboys have an instant chance to respond when they travel south to play the Titans on Thursday night. With a bye still to come, Todd Payten's side remains in the finals picture if they can quickly steady the ship and find their best form.  

This week: Titans v Cowboys, Thursday 7.50pm at Cbus Super Stadium

Next week: Eels v Cowboys, Saturday August 15 5.30pm at CommBank Stadium

10th Sea Eagles - 24 points, +90

The week off provided Manly a chance to reset and refocus before they launch a charge to the finals with a trip to Perth to play Melbourne on Saturday afternoon. The Fozball magic has worn off in recent times but the Sea Eagles are still just two points outside the eight and can play finals football if they find form in the coming weeks. Star fullback Tom Trbojevic remains another week away from returning from a hamstring injury but he will provide an instant boost when he is back on the field.

This week: Storm v Sea Eagles, Saturday 3pm (1pm AWST) at HBF Park, Perth

Next week: Sea Eagles v Dolphins, Friday August 14 6pm at 4 Pines Park

11th Raiders - 22 points, -59

The Raiders momentum came to a halt on Saturday when they ran headfirst into the rampant Panthers in Mudgee. The loss dented Canberra's finals chances but they can keep in touch with the eight with a victory over the Knights on Sunday afternoon. With a bye still to come, the Raiders just need to keep winning to stay alive in the finals race. Three victories from the next three games and we could be poised for a winner-takes-all showdown when they travel north to play the Cowboys in Round 27.

This week: Raiders v Knights, Sunday 2pm at GIO Stadium

Next week: Sharks v Raiders, Saturday August 15 3pm at Ocean Protect Stadium

12th Storm - 20 points, -26

Melbourne's quest for a 16th-straight finals series was dealt another blow last week when they fell to the Bulldogs. It was a spirited performance from a side missing Harry Grant, Cam Munster and Jahrome Hughes, but it wasn't enough to get the job done. With five rounds remaining, the equation for the Storm is simple. Just keep winning. That starts with this week's clash with Manly in Perth before a bye and games against Penrith, Brisbane and Cronulla to close out the season. The Storm have received a major boost ahead of the trip to Perth, with Munster back on deck and Grant expected to return after next week's bye.

This week: Storm v Sea Eagles, Saturday 3pm (1pm AWST) at HBF Park, Perth

Next week: Bye

13th Eels - 20 points, -179

Parramatta kept their slim finals hopes alive with a come-from-behind victory over the Tigers last weekend and the Eels know exactly what they have to do to have any chance of playing finals football. Win their final five matches. It's a task that starts against the Rabbitohs on Saturday night with Josh Addo-Carr determined to inspire his team to victory in the Indigenous Round clash. 

This week: Rabbitohs v Eels, Saturday August 8 7.35pm at Allianz Stadium

Next week: Eels v Cowboys, Saturday August 15 5.30pm at CommBank Stadium