Canterbury's semi-final fate could be decided as early as this weekend, especially if they fail to overcome Manly in Sunday afternoon's showdown at Brookvale Oval.
Although their win over Cronulla last Monday night lifted them to within two points of the top eight, they could drift to four points again if results go against them this weekend. And that would virtually extinguish all hope of them making the eight with only two rounds remaining. The Bulldogs have not failed to qualify for the finals in consecutive seasons since 1992.
The Bulldogs will confront a Manly side intent on preserving their 100 percent record at Brookvale for 2011. The Sea Eagles have won eight from eight at Brookvale this season and complete their program at the ground with matches against the Bulldogs on Sunday and Melbourne on Friday week.
They will field a near full-strength line-up with only Jason King and William Hopoate missing from the regular squad. Former Test winger David Williams will replace Hopoate (hamstring) in this week's line-up.
The Bulldogs have hooker Joel Romelo back from suspension, while Chris Armit replaces Mickey Paea on interchange.
Look to Manly to score a try as First Scoring Play and consider a Sea Eagles win by 1-12 points.
For First Tryscorer take Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson or Jamie Lyon for Manly or Steve Turner, Josh Morris or Jonathon Wright for Canterbury.
Manly v Canterbury
Brookvale Oval
Sunday 2pm
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
1 Brett Stewart, 2 Michael Robertson, 3 Jamie Lyon [c], 4 Steve Matai, 5 David Williams, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans, 8 George Rose, 9 Matt Ballin, 10 Brent Kite, 11 Anthony Watmough, 12 Joe Galuvao, 13 Glenn Stewart . Subs: 14 Darcy Lussick, 15 Jamie Buhrer, 16 Shane Rodney, 17 Tony Williams, 18 Tim Robinson (one to be omitted).
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
1 Ben Barba, 2 Steve Turner, 3 Josh Morris, 4 Jamal Idris, 5 Jonathan Wright, 6 Kris Keating, 7 Trent Hodkinson, 8 Aiden Tolman, 9 Josh Reynolds, 10 Sam Kasiano, 11 Frank Pritchard, 12 Andrew Ryan [c], 13 Dene Halatau. Subs: 14 Greg Eastwood, 15 Chris Armit, 16 Joel Romelo, 17 David Stagg.
Prediction - Matthew O'Neill: Bulldogs by 1
OVERALL:
Total Games: 111
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles wins: 58. [Pts: 1928]
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs wins: 48. [Pts: 1620]
Draws: 5
Biggest wins:
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles: 38 pts: 1954 J J Giltinan Shield - Round 14 - [View] Sat Jul 24: Sea Eagles 45 d. Canterbury 7
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 32 pts: 2003 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 23 - [View] Sun Aug 17: Sea Eagles 24 l. Bulldogs 56 [Crowd: 12820]
Biggest Crowd: 1995 Australian Rugby League - Grand Final - [View] Sun Sep 24: Bulldogs 17 d. Sea Eagles 4 [Crowd: 41127]
Last 50 games against each other form line (most recent matches at end of line):
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles: WLLLLWWLLLWWWWLLWLWWLWWWLWDLLLWLWLLLLLLWLWWWLWLWLW
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: LWWWWLLWWWLLLLWWLWLLWLLLWLDWWWLWLWWWWWWLWLLLWLWLWL
Last 10 games:
2011 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 13 - [View] Sat: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 4 l. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 38 [Crowd: 19830]
2010 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 26 - [View] Sun: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 l. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30 [Crowd: 15933]
2009 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 17 - [View] Mon: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 19 d. Bulldogs 12 [Crowd: 15501]
2009 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 1 - [View] Sat: Bulldogs 34 d. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 12 [Crowd: 19791]
2008 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 7 - [View] Sat: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 30 d. Bulldogs 22 [Crowd: 15229]
2007 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 15 - [View] Fri: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 8 l. Bulldogs 27 [Crowd: 13849]
2007 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 5 - [View] Sat: Bulldogs 14 l. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 16 [Crowd: 20269]
2006 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 25 - [View] Fri: Sea Eagles 21 d. Bulldogs 20 [Crowd: 20163]
2006 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 7 - [View] Sun: Bulldogs 14 l. Sea Eagles 40 [Crowd: 13621]
2005 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 16 - [View] Sun: Sea Eagles 12 l. Bulldogs 31 [Crowd: 14429]
Overall record at Brookvale Oval, Brookvale, Sydney (NSW) Stats:
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles: 592 games, won 415, drawn 14, lost 163.
Last 5 games:
2011 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 22 - [View] Sun: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 36 d. Sydney Roosters 8
2011 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 18 - [View] Sun: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 36 d. South Sydney Rabbitohs 22
2011 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 15 - [View] Mon: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22 d. Parramatta Eels 18
2011 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 14 - [View] Sat: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 d. North Queensland Cowboys 4
2011 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 9 - [View] Mon: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 20 d. Canberra Raiders 0
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 52 games, won 17, drawn 3, lost 32.
Last 5 games:
2010 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 26 - [View] Sun: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 l. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30
2009 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 17 - [View] Mon: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 19 d. Bulldogs 12
2008 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 7 - [View] Sat: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 30 d. Bulldogs 22
2007 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 15 - [View] Fri: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 8 l. Bulldogs 27
2006 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 25 - [View] Fri: Sea Eagles 21 d. Bulldogs 20
Head to Head at Brookvale Oval, Brookvale, Sydney (NSW) Stats:
Total Games: 51
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles wins: 31. [Pts: 1012]
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs wins: 17. [Pts: 743]
Draws: 3
Last 5 games:
2010 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 26 - [View] Sun: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 l. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30 [Crowd: 15933]
2009 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 17 - [View] Mon: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 19 d. Bulldogs 12 [Crowd: 15501]
2008 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 7 - [View] Sat: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 30 d. Bulldogs 22 [Crowd: 15229]
2007 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 15 - [View] Fri: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 8 l. Bulldogs 27 [Crowd: 13849]
2006 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 25 - [View] Fri: Sea Eagles 21 d. Bulldogs 20 [Crowd: 20163]