The St George Illawarra Dragons will be aiming to stop their downward spiral against the Parramatta Eels at Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta on Saturday.
The Dragons have lost their previous two fixtures in previous weeks and will be aiming to stop the rot while making prop Jack de Belin's 50th milestone game a happy one.
Head Coach Steve Price has made changes to the line-up that were defeated 38-6 by the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs last round with winger Jason Nightingale returning to the flanks in lieu of Nathan Green.
However, the New Zealand international who is presently recovering from knee injury, is being monitored with an assessment on his availability to be made closer to kick-off.
Dragons prop Jack Stockwell had additionally been named in the line-up but has been ruled out for precautionary reasons with a hairline fracture in his foot.
Dragons second-rower Will Matthews has been named on the interchange, having been utilised as 18th man in recent weeks, while prop Mike Cooper is under observation with a shoulder complaint but on standby if recalled.
Price had called the loss against the Bulldogs last round as "soft" and has issued his forward pack to step-up to the challenge posed by the inform Eels.
The Eels were comprehensive 42-24 winners over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks last round courtesy of the attacking prowess of fullback Jarryd Hayne and halfback Chris Sandow.
In defence, the opposition boasts talented forwards Junior Paulo and Darcy Lussick, the latter ever looking to force unsuspecting rivals into making erros.
