Super League Round 17 Preview

St George Saints host PCYC Parramatta Eagles at Belmore Sportsground on Saturday night (7.30pm) in a big match for both sides. Second-placed Parramatta is chasing down Bonnyrigg, while St George will try ? again ? to break into the top-five. The clubs share an interesting Super League history with the Eagles winning the first meeting 1-0, but the Saints claiming the next three fixtures, 1-0, 2-1 (last year?s minor semi-final) and 2-1 in round six at Melita earlier this year.
Rockdale City Suns visit Granville Rage at Garside Park on Saturday night (7.30pm) in another key match. 2006 champions Rockdale are still in the finals race but will need to string some results together to make it, while fifth-placed Granville are trying to find some consistency after a couple of rocky results. Interestingly, the Suns have the wood on the Rage with three wins in five Super League meetings, culminating in a solid 2-0 win in round six.
Fraser Park travel up the freeway to face Central Coast Lightning at Pluim Park on Saturday night (7.30pm) for a game with marked consequences. Fourth-placed Fraser Park can extend the points gap to their chasers with a good performance against Central Coast, who need to win to return to the top-five mix. Fraser Park beat Central Coast 3-1 and 3-0 (in round six) in their previous two encounters and will be keen to make it three on the trot this weekend. But who can predict Lightning strikes these days?
On Sunday afternoon, top-three side Bossy Liverpool tackles Mount Druitt Town Rangers at Ernie Smith Reserve (3pm kick-off). Liverpool are six points behind Bonnyrigg but have a couple of catch-up matches up their sleeve, which makes their run home an intriguing affair. Mount Druitt?s finals hopes are fading, and they are yet to beat Bossy in Super League. But with so much at stake, now is the time for the Rangers to fire up. Liverpool won their round six meeting 3-1.
Sydney University meet the Northern Tigers at Mills Park on Sunday afternoon (3pm) in the toughest of circumstances. Despite an up-and-down season from last year?s grand finalists, the Tigers are just three points of top-five pace and can suddenly find themselves right in the mix with a good result against Uni. The ?students? are playing for their Super League lives but will be buoyed by the fact that one of their three wins in 2008 was a 2-0 shutout of Northern in round six.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles have a vacant weekend in the Super League due to their Semi-Final Tiger Turf Cup clash against Bankstown City at Seymour Shaw on Sunday at 3pm.
-By Daniel De Nardi