The Eels and Sharks get a chance to open their account for 2023 after both suffered defeats in tight games in the opening round.
Both sides will have taken plenty of positives out of their first-up efforts despite having nothing to show in the 'win' column - the Eels going to golden point against Melbourne, and the Sharks matching motors with Souths for much of the night despite going in without Nicho Hynes and losing Wade Graham to the bin.
Hynes is a chance to return from a calf injury but Graham faces three weeks on the sideline after he was charged with Dangerous Contact for a high shot on Rabbitoh Davvy Moale.
The Eels and Sharks met just once in 2022, a round two clash that was decided in the last minute by a Teig Wilton try and an ice cool Hynes conversion as Cronulla got home 18-16 in their first match at PointsBet Stadium since 2019.
Both sides opened the 2022 season with four wins in their first five games but a 0-2 start awaits the team that can't rise to the occasion on Friday night and make the necessary adjustments from round one.
This week it's the Eels with home ground advantage and they'll have plenty of support behind them as fans flock down from the offices and restaurants of Parramatta for the 6.00pm kick-off hoping to cheer Mitch Moses to victory in his 200th NRL game.
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Team News
Eels: Former Kiwi international Bailey Simonsson returns from the shoulder injury he suffered in last year's Grand Final, after being named on the wing in place of Sean Russell in the 24-hour update. The Eels are otherwise unchanged from last week's golden point loss to Melbourne. Jake Arthur is 18th man.
Sharks: The Sharks are 1-17 with no late changes. Wade Graham has been suspended for four games for a Reckless High Tackle committed in Round 1 so Connor Tracey joins the interchange and prop Royce Hunt also returns from an elbow injury via the bench. Jack Williams (head knock) is out. Max Bradbury, Jayden Berrell and Niwhai Puru were omitted in Thursday's 24-hour update.
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Stat Attack
- The Eels won 10 of their 13 matches at CommBank Stadium last year but are 0-1 in 2023 after the narrow loss to Melbourne.
- The Sharks have won only three of their past 10 games against the Eels.
- The Sharks lost their only previous game against the Eels at CommBank Stadium 28-4 in 2021.
- The Sharks have won only three of their past 10 games against the Eels.
- The Eels have not started the season with back-to-back losses since 2018.