Super League Round 5 Preview

Liverpool has set the early pace, but can they continue their good run against last year?s finalists, Northern Tigers. The four win-less clubs ? Mount Druitt, Uni. Fairfield and Central Coast ? also face tough matches in their bid to break into the ?W? column.
It?s sure to be a classic encounter when Sydney University travel to St George Stadium on Saturday night (7.30pm kick-off).
Not much has separated the two sides with a 2-2 and 3-3 draw marking their 2006 fixtures, and shared close victories over each other last year (1-0 to Uni and 2-0 for the Saints), although both games were played at St George Stadium. Uni will be keen to grab some points to show for their efforts in a win-less year to date, while St George will want to stay in touch with the leader board.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles hosting a wavering Fraser Park Dragons at Bonnyrigg Sports Club on Saturday night (7.30pm) is not without its challenges.
Bonnyrigg beat title contenders Parramatta 5-0 last week and the Dragons are yet to beat the White Eagles since Bonnyrigg were squeezed out of Premier League in 2006, although they did push their more fancied opponents in an enthralling 3-5 loss at the sports club that very year. A lacklustre 1-4 loss at Bonnyrigg and 0-0 draw at Fraser Park late in 2007 may give the Dragons some reassurance ahead of a tough match.
Fairfield City Lions travel to Garside Park on Saturday night (7.30pm) for an interesting match-up with the in-form Granville Rage. Fairfield have two 2-1 wins over Granville in the bank, including a 2006 encounter at Garside but the Rage thrashed the Lions 5-1 in a game there last April.
Fairfield have also conceded a league-worst 12 goals in four games and coach Aydin Cetinay will need to fire his charges up if they can even dream of beating a fourth-placed Granville outfit full of running in season 2008.
PCYC Parramatta Eagles and Central Coast Lightning will size each other up like two wounded gladiators ahead of this Saturday night?s clash at Pluim Park (7.30pm). Parramatta were trounced 0-5 by old foes Bonnyrigg last week and must be wandering just what the heck happened, while Central Coast have booted six goals in three games and have a trio of losses to show for it.
The form guide isn?t much use with the Eagles stealing a 2-1 win at Pluim last August, after the Lightning had won an earlier 4-2 thriller at Melita.
Unbeaten league-leaders Bossy Liverpool face their sternest test of the season when they welcome third-placed Northern Tigers (also undefeated) to Ernie Smith Reserve on Sunday afternoon (3pm kick-off).
In what promises to be an absolute treat for fans, Liverpool?s goalscoring machine Alex Canak goes head-to-head with Bonnyrigg whiz kid Goran Subara. Past results indicate a beauty with the Tigers winning a 3-2 thriller at Mills Park last July, three months after a 5-0 whitewash over a hapless Bossy at Ernie Smith. It was Liverpool with two wins before that.
Rockdale City Suns may have the edge over Mount Druitt Town Rangers, but their Sunday afternoon (3pm) clash at Popondetta Park promises to be an entertaining affair. 2006 champions Rockdale are celebrating a return to the top-five after being at the other end of the table for all of last year, and they would dearly love to reverse a 4-0 win to Mount Druitt in their early-2007 contest at Popondetta.
The Suns went some way to attaining revenge with a 4-0 win of their own at Rockdale last June, but Mount Druitt have only been beaten once in four games this year.
-By Daniel De Nardi