There’s no finals campaign to gear up for, no wooden spoon to avoid, but St George Illawarra have dismissed suggestions Sunday’s `retirement celebration’ NRL match will be little more than a glorified trial.

The Dragons and Parramatta will each say goodbye to two of their longest-serving players in the NRL’s regular season finale at ANZ Stadium, the Eels farewelling Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Burt and the Dragons losing skipper Ben Hornby and Dean Young.

But with nothing but pride on the line – the Eels having secured the wooden spoon and the Dragons out of finals contention – there have been suggestions the game could deteriorate into a game of touch football.

It’s a prospect Dragons centre Matt Cooper rejects.

“I think it will be a tough game. I can’t see a fancy, throw the footy around like touch football sort of game,” Cooper said on Tuesday.

“Both teams want to win.

“They’re going to want to win for Hindy and Luke and we’re going to do the same for Dean and Ben.

“Last Saturday night walking off WIN Stadium as winners was great for the boys. It would be a shame to go out there on Sunday thinking it would be an exhibition game.”

The Dragons certainly looked like they were having a bit of fun against the Warriors last Saturday night, their 38 points scored their highest output of the year as they chanced their arm with the pressure of seeking a finals berth no longer hanging over their head.

But while the pressure may have been released the desire to win has not.

“Both teams are proud teams. You always want to win, especially to send those guys (Hornby and Young) out as winners,” said Dragons back-rower Ben Creagh, who will play his 200th NRL game on Sunday.

“There’s a bit of pressure off with the last game of the year, but it’ll be pretty passionate.

“I know we’re not playing for finals spots but we’re playing for a lot in terms of who we’re playing for this weekend.”