Roosters v Sharks: Baxter returns; Dodd, Biddle in the mix

This weekend marks the start of the preliminary finals with a grand final rematch between the high-flying Roosters and the Sharks.

The last encounter occurred just two weeks ago, where the Roosters dominated in their Round 11 clash, ending the regular season with a decisive 40-10 victory.

However, the match came with significant repercussions, as halfback Tarryn Aiken suffered an ACL injury, and young talent Aliyah Nasio will also miss this match due to suspension for a shoulder charge.

The Sharks enter the game following a narrow win against the North Queensland Cowboys, who were making their first finals appearance. The 24-18 victory provides them a chance to seek redemption for last year's grand final loss to the Roosters, a match where they narrowly fell 32-28 despite a strong second-half comeback.

With the Roosters remaining undefeated and fans expecting a back-to-back championship run, the Sharks are fueled with motivation to pull off an upset.