Super League Round 6 Preview

Back-to-back wins have elevated the Lightning up the ladder to equal-fifth, while Fraser Park languish on the bottom without a point to their name. But gradual improvements should hold Fraser Park in better stead this weekend. Central Coast do hold onto a historical advantage, winning three times to Fraser Park?s two in five Super League meetings.
Northern Tigers travel to Ernie Smith Reserve on Sunday afternoon to take on a struggling Bossy Liverpool side (3pm kick-off). The Tigers broke through for their first win of the season last weekend, beating Granville 2-1, and will feel win-less Liverpool are ripe for the picking. It will be tight; in seven Super League fixtures, the teams have won three times each.
PCYC Parramatta Eagles host neighbours Granville Rage at Melita Stadium in a Sunday afternoon grudge match (3pm). Parramatta copped their first defeat of 2009 in losing 1-0 to Macarthur last weekend, while Granville have been dead unlucky in some of their games this year to only net one win and one draw from five outings. In four Super League encounters, it?s Granville with their noses in front (winning twice and drawing once), but local derbies only rarely rely on form as a guide.
High flyers Mount Druitt Town Rangers welcome competition frontrunners Macarthur Rams to Popondetta Park on Sunday afternoon (3pm) for an interesting match-up. Many perceive Mount Druitt?s solid start to the year as a fluke, but the Rangers have been steadily building towards this point since entering Super League three years ago. They also have the wood on Macarthur with a 3-2 win at Popondetta and a 1-1 draw at Lynwood in 2007, before the Rams left for Premier League.
Cross-town rivals St George Saints play Rockdale City Suns in a Sunday afternoon blockbuster at St George Stadium (3pm). Rockdale have begun their climb to the top of the points ladder, but face a formidable opponent in St George, who will be keen to return to the winners circle after last week?s first loss of the season. While the Suns have a historical edge (winning three of their five games and drawing 3-3 in another), all of the matches have been a torrid affair.
Sydney University take on Spirit FC at Uni Oval on Sunday afternoon (3pm). Both teams remain undefeated after five rounds (along with leaders Macarthur), which could make things spicy as they work out if they want to keep it that way or push for a decisive victory. Spirit has enjoyed an amazing start to their Super League campaign and has put every team on notice with their attacking flair. Uni just keep on growing from strength to strength and this game should provide one of the highlights of the round.
-By Daniel De Nardi