A blockbuster between minor premiers Penrith and back-to-back premiers the Sydney Roosters at Panthers Stadium headlines the opening week of the 2020 NRL finals.
The match-ups are locked in after Saturday's slate of games with only the scheduling of the four fixtures across next weekend still to be revealed.
The Wests Tigers threatened to throw a late cat amongst the pigeons when they led Parramatta with 24 minutes to play as a loss would have dropped the Eels to fifth and denied them a double chance.
But order was restored and Eels' win lifted them over the Roosters and into a clash with second-placed Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium.
The fourth-placed Roosters, reeling from a shock 52-point flogging at the hands of South Sydney on Friday, must find a way to get back on track against a Penrith riding high on a 15-game winning streak.
Match Highlights: Wests Tigers v Eels
In the elimination finals the Raiders (5th) will host Cronulla (8th) at GIO Stadium in a rematch of their round 20 clash, albeit with full-strength line-ups, while the red-hot Rabbitohs (6th) will welcome the Knights (7th) to ANZ Stadium.
The Sharks limped into the finals without beating a top-eight side all season while the Raiders will welcome back a number of their stars who were rested on Saturday.
The NRL will officially announce venues and kick-off times at the end of the round after Sunday’s games.
Match Highlights: Rabbitohs v Roosters
