LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The NRL have announced the referees for the upcoming semi-finals as the stage is set for the grand final showdown.
Veteran NRL referee Ashley Klein has been given the green light to officiate alongside Grant Atkins, setting them up as the frontrunners to take the field for the grand final.
Despite some controversy surrounding a questionable forward pass call in the last round, Klein has been given the nod once again to call the shots this weekend.
He will be in charge of the clash between the Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys, while Atkins will be overseeing the battle between the Sydney Roosters and Manly Sea Eagles.
It looks like Klein and Atkins are shaping up to be the dream team for the grand final, with no room for last year's grand final referee Adam Gee to make a comeback.
Gerard Sutton will be the standby referee for both games this weekend, with Todd Smith being benched after a rough outing with three overturned captain's challenges in the previous round.