The St George Illawarra Dragons will take on the Parramatta Eels at Bankwest Stadium on Sunday, May 5.
With the Dragons looking to inflict the first Eels defeat at the new stadium, here are five things to keep an eye on throughout the clash.
Lafai’s 150th NRL game
After making his NRL debut in 2011 for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Tim Lafai will play his 150th game against Parramatta. The Samoan international played 74 games for the Bulldogs before joining the Dragons in 2016.
Since scoring a try on debut against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Lafai has racked up 48 tries over his career and kicked 23 goals. The 27-year-old has also represented Samoa on 12 occasions and helped push Toa Samoa to the quarter finals in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
Paul Vaughan notches half-century
The Dragons' Italian Stallion Paul Vaughan will play his 50th match for the club. Vaughan arrived at the Dragons in 2017 after 85 appearances for the Canberra Raiders.
Vaughan made his Dragons debut in 2017 against the Penrith Panthers and has blossomed in the Red V jersey, where he's added a host of representative honours to his list of achievements.
The 28-year-old prop scored his first try for the Dragons against the Parramatta Eels back in 2017, a feat he will be looking to repeat on Sunday.
Norman takes on former team
Since joining the Dragons this year, Corey Norman hasn't been afraid to step up in the big moments and stamp his mark on the side.
The 107-game veteran of the Eels will come up against his old club for the first time and the talented playmaker will be firing on all cylinders.
Running out against friends and former teammates, Norman will have a point to prove and no doubt would love bragging rights by game's end.
New stadium smell
When the Dragons take on the Eels it will be just the second -ever NRL match at the newly-opened Bankwest Stadium, and the first appearance there for the Dragons.
A close-to-capacity crowd is expected and will no doubt give the Dragons a frosty reception as they take the field. The Eels romped the Wests Tigers 51-6 in their first match at the ground.
Double bogey
Despite changing squads and new coaches, healthy winning streaks over certain teams is common in the NRL.
From 2008 to 2013, the Dragons racked up nine victories out of 10 matches against Parramatta which included two 30-0 thumpings.
However, since a Fuifui Moimoi double sparked the Eels to victory in Round 25 of the 2013 season, Parramatta has gone to win seven of the past eight matches against the Red V.
