A number of huge games are set to conclude what has been a bumper 2017 home and away season with nine sides still in the running for a place in the finals, while the top four battle is as heated as ever.
1300SMILES Stadium, Thursday Night
When you looked at this fixture in prior to the season, you knew it was always going to have finals implications and as it stands today, that certainly is the case.
While both sides need to win for differing reasons, a loss for the home side could put their spot in finals football in serious jeopardy. For the first time in a long time, the Cowboys will have an unchanged line up after not picking up any new injuries last week against the Tigers and will look for a similar result against a Broncos side who were stunned last week against the Eels, conceding a mammoth 52 points at home.
The Cowboys' forward pack has been a strength of theirs all season and while Michael Morgan has thrived as the main playmaker in the halves, their execution at times has let them down and you can be sure that Wayne Bennett's side will bring it defensively this Thursday.
While defensively fragile at times, the Broncos are not to be questioned offensively and it's an area the Cowboys will find hard to stop. They have arguably one of the best spines in the competition that have performed consistently for the majority of 2017 and despite their defensive struggles last week, they still managed to score six tries.
The Cowboys have won the previous three meetings against the Broncos and would love nothing more than a morale boosting win over their interstate rivals on the brink of another finals campaign.
This traditional Queensland rivalry has been one that many have kept a close eye on in recent years and this edition will be no different.
Broncos by 4.
ANZ Stadium, Friday Night
These two sides couldn't come into this game in more contrasting form with Parramatta dismantling the Broncos with ease last week while the Rabbitohs were humiliated (on the scoreboard at least) against the Storm.
The Eels are in top form, having only suffered one loss since round 14 and a win on Friday night will sew up a top four berth for the blue and gold hoops. Offensively, they have weapons everywhere and their extended bench includes the likes of Kaysa Pritchard, Josh Hoffman and Beau Scott, all of whom are possible inclusions into the 17 come Friday night.
While coach Brad Arthur will be elated with his side's form, they are still defensively vulnerable and will need to tighten that up, beginning this weekend.
That will be tested as the Rabbitohs have the ability to chalk up a big score. While they won't have try-scoring machine Alex Johnston on the park (or Zane Musgrove, out through suspension), they still possess the likes of Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds (concussion protocol pending), with the former leading all halves in the competition for line breaks (16).
The Eels have everything to play for and certainly won't be letting this one slip.
Eels by 10.
Allianz Stadium, Saturday Afternoon
The Roosters were the biggest winners of the Broncos' loss last week, jumping into second position and therefore in line for two home finals in September should they win this week over a hapless Titans side depleted through injury.
A host of key men for the Titans are out including Nathan Peats, Jarrod Wallace, Dale Copley and Tyrone Roberts with Nathaniel Peteru, Jamal Fogarty and Pat Politoni among the inclusions.
A strong and determined performance from the Roosters last week saw them down the reigning premiers thanks to a last minute penalty and will use this week to fine tune a few things in the attack in preparation for a finals tilt.
As one of the best sides in the competition in second-phase football, the Roosters pace and agility through the middle has proved too strong for many this season. Luke Keary and Mitchell Pearce have a combined 27 try assists so far in 2017 and will need to continue that production if they are to go deep into September.
The Titans' season from hell is near a close and with the finish line in sight, the Roosters could put a cricket score on disjointed Titans side.
Roosters by 14.
Lottoland, Saturday Night
A win for both sides can give them a home final. A loss for either side can see them drop out of the eight. A draw, well, that'll ensure both sides play finals football. Maybe that's the perfect result here?
Regardless of what takes place, all eyes around the league will be on this match up as the ridiculously inconsistent Sea Eagles take on a Panthers side who must bounce back following a disappointing loss last week to the Dragons.
Manly's escape from the jaws of defeat last week across the ditch kept their finals hopes alive with Daly Cherry-Evans coming clutch on a number of occasions. He'll certainly have his hands full this week with a blockbuster match up with Nathan Clearly. Dean Whare comes into the side with Dylan Edwards out through injury while Matt Moylan still remains unlikely to take the field, being named in the reserves.
Their attacking mojo suffered somewhat last week and their finals chances did likewise, eliminating their hopes of a top four birth however they'll have a chance to recapture that against the Sea Eagles who are far from a wall at times at the back. On average, they've conceded over 21 points a game in 2017 and the variety of playmaking in the Panthers side will pose problems.
Manly, meanwhile, share the workload better than most in the competition, with their backs providing more than adequate assistance to their forwards as they cut through lines with ease at times. They have the fourth-most line breaks in the competition and as a result, have the fourth-most prolific attack in the league as well, something that will prove hard to stop for the Panthers this weekend.
This game has all the makings of a cracker with the repercussions potentially ending one teams season. The home side is slight favourites however their average home form this season has us with doubts.
Panthers by 2.
AAMI Park, Saturday Night
The Storm was clinical and ruthless last week against the Bunnies and will look to build on that again this week as they prepare themselves for a home run deep into the finals series.
While they may not be able to better themselves offensively, it's consistency that they'll be after and will face a Raiders side determined to end their season on a high.
Despite being in top form of late, they simply left their run too late in 2017. Ricky Stuart's side will take plenty of confidence out of the back end of the season however and will look to disrupt Melbourne's plans this Saturday.
The Storm is unchanged while Iosia Soliola comes back into the Raiders side after being suspended for a high shot on Billy Slater five weeks ago.
Melbourne will have their hands will defensively with Jack Wighton and Nick Cotric in sublime form while Joseph Leilua and Jordan Rapana need no introduction about what they can do.
In what's set to be Cooper Cronk's final home and away game in Melbourne, the Storm will be determined to chalk up another win. Suliasi Vunivalu (coming off a hat-trick) needs just one try to claim the mantle of the league's leading try scorer in 2017 while Rapana (20) and Josh Addo-Carr (19) are also hot on his heels.
While Ricky Stuart will be determined to get one over his good mate Craig Bellamy, the Storm is almost at a robotic stage and will roll to victory.
Storm by 10.
McDonald Jones Stadium, Sunday Afternoon
While set to claim a third straight wooden spoon, the Knights have shown plenty in the back half of 2017 to suggest that streak will end this season. While taking on a Cronulla side looking to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss last weekend, the Knights - without Daniel Saifiti - will look to send Dane Gagai out in style in his final home game in the blue and red jersey.
Tyrone Amey will make his debut off the bench in place of Saifiti as Jack Cogger lines up for his second game in the halves. The promise and future will be on show for the Knights to display on their traditional Old Boys Day while a Sharks side will be looking to crash the party in a big way, looking to add to an impressive 9-2 away record.
Jack Bird is a chance to return from injury to bolster a Sharks side still in danger of missing out on a home final. Their top four hopes seem highly unlikely barring a shock Eels loss and seem destined to defend their title with an elimination final first up.
The Roosters managed to slow the progress of Cronulla's imposing forward pack last week in a potential blue print on how to stop them come September, however, Jacob Saifiti, Lachlan Fitzgibbon and co will look to use that this weekend to send Cronulla into finals action with a two-loss streak.
Cronulla is firm favourites with the bookies, however, don't discount the Knights completely.
Sharks by 8.
ANZ Stadium
First, they dented Manly's finals hopes and now they have a chance to end St George's. The Bulldogs are firing offensively - I know, I can't believe I said those words in 2017 either - and will look to end their season with three wins on the trot.
The Bulldogs have produced their highest-scoring efforts over the past fortnight with 30-point and 26-point displays and while Brett Morris is out through injury, Chase Stanley comes in to replace him. Josh Reynolds has been named on the reserves in what will be his final match in Bulldogs colours and as they get set to take on the Dragons who welcome back Josh Dugan after he was sensationally dropped last weekend for disciplinary reasons.
A win for the Dragons is the only chance they have of making the finals with a superior points differential to Manly, North Queensland and Penrith working in their favour.
Matt Frawley has controlled the Bulldogs attack very well in recent weeks and has shown he is more than capable of leading this side around the park next season.
With their season on the line, the Dragons have it all to play for however despite being clear favourites, we think the Bulldogs can cause a boil over and send the Dragons packing.
Bulldogs by 4.
Leichhardt Oval, Sunday Night
The only match up with no finals implications will end the 2017 home and away season as James Tedesco and Aaron Woods say goodbye to the Tigers faithful.
Keiran Foran will also play his last game in Warriors colours in the old suburban ground of Leichhardt Oval. The Tigers have been reasonably impressive of late, despite having played four top-eight sides in as many weeks.
The game has the chance to be an open, free-flowing contest with nothing to play for as both sides have a chance to show off their offensive flair. Luke Brooks has emerged in recent weeks, taking ownership of this Tigers side, one that will be his in 2018.
James Tedesco was somewhat quiet last week and will look to bow out as a Tigers player in style.
The Warriors have lost eight on the trot and blew a near-certain win last weekend against Manly. Shaun Johnson's importance couldn't have been more highlighted over this stretch and his return last week - albeit not at his best - still saw him set up a pair of tries.
Wests form over the last few weeks is enough to suggest they'll set out their junior stars in style.
Tigers by 8.