Sea Eagles v Sharks: Manly eye home final; Cronulla chase top four

Crucial positions inside the top-eight are on the line when Manly host the Sharks at 4 Pines Park on Sunday afternoon. 

The equation for the Sea Eagles is simple, defeat Cronulla and secure a home final in the opening week of the finals. 

Whether that will be in fifth or sixth place depends on the result of Saturday's clash between the Bulldogs and Cowboys, however it's likely Manly will finish sixth and play the loser of that match in a sudden-death elimination final next weekend. 

A draw between Canterbury and North Queensland opens up the possibility of the Sea Eagles rising to fifth on the ladder. 

The situation is slightly more complicated for the Sharks who are battling for position inside the top four. 

A win over Manly could see Cronulla finish as high as second on the ladder and result in a home final of their own in the first week of the finals. 

That, however, depends on the outcome of Penrith and Roosters matches earlier in the weekend. 

A 68-point for and against turnaround would be required for the Bulldogs to leapfrog the Sharks into fourth on the ladder if Craig Fitzgibbon's men fall to Manly on Sunday and Canterbury defeat the Cowboys. 

Cronulla and Manly enter this weekend's match with contrasting form and health, the Sea Eagles riding high after last week's win over the Bulldogs. 

The victory came at a cost, however, with Jason Saab and Tom Trbojevic to miss the match due to injury. 

The Sharks suffered a last-minute loss to the Warriors last Saturday night but they are set to welcome back Sifa Talakai, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Jesse Ramien from injury and suspension on Sunday.