Super League Round 18 Preview

In fact, the only game Parramatta has lost to Liverpool was last season?s decider, which will provide plenty of motivation in itself to do well this weekend.
The Northern Tigers won?t be taking Fraser Park lightly when they pay the competition?s bottom side a visit on Saturday night (7.30pm kickoff). The Tigers have jumped into fourth spot and will look to make it three wins on the trot this weekend. But Fraser Park used last week?s 4-1 hiding of Central Coast to move within strike range of Liverpool and Mount Druitt and force a relegation dogfight. Amazingly, the two sides have produced 40 goals in 10 Super League encounters, six of them won by Northern.
Central Coast Lightning travel to St George Stadium to play the Saints on Saturday night (7.30pm), and they have a point to prove. The last time they met, Central Coast broke a seven game losing streak to St George with a gritty 2-1 win at Pluim Park. It was the sixth result between the clubs separated by just the one goal. With playoff positions up for grabs, the Saints will be keen to return to the winners circle after a 5-1 drubbing by neighbours Rockdale last week.
A groggy Macarthur Rams take on Granville Rage at Garside Park on Sunday afternoon (3pm kickoff). The fifth-placed Rams are still overcoming a glandular fever outbreak at the club and face a Rage side smarting from last week?s 2-0 loss to cross town rivals Parramatta. Macarthur hold onto an historical edge, winning four Super League meetings to Granville?s two, including a 1-0 win at Lynwood Park in round seven.
Sydney University welcome Rockdale City Suns to their dreaded oval on Sunday afternoon (3pm) with much up for grabs for both sides. Rockdale want to keep the pressure on Parramatta, who jumped three points clear in first, while Uni are pressing for a finals berth. There is a historical closeness between the clubs with Rockdale winning their last two encounters 1-0. In fact, only one of their six matches has been separated by more than one goal, a 3-1 win to the Suns last year. Uni have just one win over Rockdale.
Spirit FC play Mount Druitt Town Rangers in a high stakes game at Popondetta Park on Sunday afternoon (3pm). Spirit are third and Mount Druitt are third last, but in real danger of being hauled into a three-way relegation battle with Liverpool and Fraser Park. A 2-3 loss to the Spirit in round seven shows Mount Druitt can match it with the top weights, and they have managed to score in every game they have started this year. But Spirit have been quite proficient in their debut Super League year.
-By Daniel De Nardi