Super League Round 16 Preview

But it?s Northern?s impressive record at Garside that will have Granville most worried ? the Tigers have won four of six meetings at the Rage home ground. Granville will be hankering for the win to stay in touch with the top-five, with Northern eyeing off a plausible top-three place.
PCYC Parramatta Eagles host Macarthur Rams in a Sunday afternoon blockbuster at Melita Stadium (3pm kick-off). The Rams won their round-five match against the Eagles 1-0 in a real arm wrestle of an affair. In fact, there has only been two goals scored in three clashes between these two top-five sides, so spectators might be treated more by a game of tactics, rather by one of any great goalscoring feats. The last game they played at Melita (in April 2007) ended in a 0-0 draw.
Bossy Liverpool can put further distance between them and the relegation pit when they host Central Coast Lightning at Ernie Smith Reserve on Sunday afternoon (3pm). Liverpool are a much tougher nut to crack than at the start of the season, when Central Coast beat them 2-1, but the Lightning boast a fair Super League record against Bossy, with their round-five win taking them to three victories each over the past four seasons.
It?s chalk versus cheese when second-placed Rockdale City Suns welcome bottom-side Fraser Park to the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon (3pm). Rockdale ran riot at Fraser Park earlier in the year, winning 5-2, but history has the two clubs pitted a lot closer than that. In seven Super League meetings, the Suns have won three matches, Fraser Park two, and there has been two draws. Incredibly, Rockdale are yet to beat Fraser Park at Ilinden in three seasons of football, losing twice.
St George Saints entertain competition top guns Spirit FC at St George Stadium on Sunday afternoon (3pm). A Saints win could elevate them back into the top five after a long stay out of it, but Spirit won?t want to relinquish their position on the ladder, particularly as it was a steady, consistent run which got them there in the first place. The match will also feature two of the league?s top goalscorers with St George?s Juan Carlos Chavez facing off against Spirit?s Tim Simpson. Spirit won their round-five clash 3-1.
Sydney University can also entertain a top-five position with a good showing against Mount Druitt Town Rangers at Uni Oval on Sunday afternoon (3pm). Mount Druitt will also consider the game as a means to impress the competition?s leading teams. While Uni have won two of their five Super League clashes with Mount Druitt, the Rangers stole a 3-1 victory in their only match played at Uni Oval (in 2008). The other two fixtures were draws, including a 1-1 result at Popondetta in round five.
-By Daniel De Nardi