Saturday, ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm
Referee: Gavin Badger

The likelihood is that neither of these sides will make the finals, but as difficult as the season has been for them they would not have given up hope at this stage. The 13th-placed Bulldogs need the win more. They are two points behind the 12th-placed Raiders, who are two points outside of the top eight, and if they are going to make any sort of move they can't afford not to win this one at home.

The Bulldogs have been battered by injury this season and are still missing their most damaging player Sonny Bill Williams and one of the competition's best fullbacks in Luke Patten. They have a few key players left who are capable of making big plays, but there are a few obvious holes in the side as well. The Raiders have also had big problems on the injury front and went through a very rough patch before getting back on the winning list against the Broncos at home last weekend. But the Broncos, too, had several key players out because of injury.

The Raiders would be favourites if they were playing this game at home, but they are not the same team on the road. The Bulldogs, at home, deserve favouritism.

LATE MAIL
Bulldogs prop Jarrad Hickey has been cleared to make his return against Canberra tomorrow, although officials maintain Sonny Bill Williams and fullback Luke Patten are no chance of doing the same.

Canberra centre Joel Monaghan will have a fitness test today on an abdominal strain, with Brett Kelly on standby.
Glenn Jackson

BULLDOGS: Nick Youngquest, Hazem El Masri, Daryl Millard, Tim Winitana, Heka Nanai, Daniel Holdsworth, Ben Roberts, Jarrad Hickey, Corey Hughes, Brad Morrin, Nick Kouparitsas, Andrew Ryan (capt), Reni Maitua. Interchange: Frank Winterstein, Lee Te Maari, Fred Briggs, Michael Sullivan,

RAIDERS: David Milne, Justin Carney, Colin Best, Joel Monaghan, Bronx Goodwin, Terry Campese, Todd Carney, Troy Thompson, Glen Buttriss, Dane Tilse, Glen Turner, Joe Picker, Alan Tongue (capt). Interchange: Josh Miller, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Trevor Thurling, Michael Weyman, Ben Jones (one to be omitted).