After their sensational win over the in-form Rabbitohs win last week in Sydney, the Cowboys return home for this clash having won five of their last six matches and sitting seventh on the ladder.

It was a very good win form the Cowboys who executed their game-plan to perfection and kept the Rabbitohs on the back-foot for the majority of the match off the boot of Johnathan Thurston’s kicking game.

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After such a display, it was no surprise to see the Premiership odds slashed to $10.00.

Depending on the results of the Storm (v Roosters) and Bulldogs (v Rabbitohs) games, a win here could see the Cowboys elevate themselves to fifth.

The Cowboys have an impeccable record at home this year, having won nine of their ten games – the only defeat coming in round 3 to the Warriors – and generally treat their home crowd to plenty of points, averaging over 31 points per game.

With their momentum in full swing and possibly some more spaces up for grabs on the ladder, expect the Cowboys to show the hapless Sharks no mercy.

The Cowboys will field the same side as they did against the Rabbitohs

SHARKS

The Sharks horrible 2014 season seems to have finally bottomed out after they were virtually handed the Wooden Spoon by the Raiders who defeated them 22 – 12 last week at Remondis.

The Sharks were still in the contest well into the second half but a string of handling errors coming out of their own end; gifted the Raiders several opportunities to close out the game which they finally did in the 70th minute with a try to Anthony Milford.

It was the Sharks fourth loss on the trot and as seems to be normal for them this season, they’ve again lost several players for this week’s clash with injuries, namely Jonathon Wright and Fa’amanu Brown.

Their positions will be filled by Daniel Holdsworth at five-eight and Tinirau Arona in the second row.

A similar performance to last week, against a much stronger and more ruthless opponent, could see the Sharks in danger of not covering the line here.

HEAD TO HEAD

When the two sides last me in round 19, the Cowboys registered a 36 – 18 win at Remondis Stadium, their fourth from the past five matches against the Sharks.

Since then, the Cowboys have only lost one game, a one point loss to Penrith and even more worryingly for the Sharks is that the Cowboys are a 12 – 16 point better team when playing at home.

It’s hard to see anything but a Cowboys win here so, for a bit of value, Antonio Winterstein – who has scored 14 tries from 19 appearances this year – to score first or at anytime during the game, into the Cowboys 19+ could be the way to go.

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Teams:

COWBOYS: Michael Morgan, Kyle Feldt, Tautau Moga, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Robert Lui, Johnathan Thurston (c), Matt Scott, Rory Kostjasyn, Ashton Sims, Gavin Cooper, Tariq Sims, Jason Taumalolo.
Interchange: Ray Thompson, Scott Bolton, Glenn Hall, James Tamou.

SHARKS: Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki, Blake Ayshford, Ricky Leutele, Valentine Holmes, Daniel Holdsworth, Jeff Robson, Tim Robinson, Michael Lichaa, Matt Prior, Tinaru Arona, Tupou Sopoaga, Chris Heighington.
Interchange: Pat Politoni, Junior Roqica, Sione Masima, Scott Sorensen.