LeagueNews.co | Nick Loken
With only pride left to play for, the 12th placed Sea Eagles and 15th placed Bulldogs will go head-to-head on Sunday, hoping to climb up the ladder and take some positives into next season.
The Sea Eagles were right in the mix after their Round 22 victory over the Dragons but they have failed to register a win since then, with a tough run home slowly cruelling their chances of a 2023 finals campaign.
Despite their recent losses, Anthony Seibold's side have stood tall against premiership contenders in the Panthers and Warriors in recent weeks but have struggled to capitalise on their early leads and have been on the wrong end of some tight contests.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs will be hoping to save face in front of their faithful when they play host at Accor Stadium after winning just three games at home this season.
After matching it with the Raiders for over 60 minutes at GIO Stadium, the Bulldogs showed some promising signs on Sunday and if they can fix up the missed tackles (47) and conceded penalties (6), they could have a real chance to upset the Sea Eagles.
The Sea Eagles were 31-6 winners when the two sides met in Round 1, and the Bulldogs have lost four of their last five meetings.
However, statistics can be deceiving and the Bulldogs will be determined to prove that they are not an easy team to beat.
Both teams will be looking to finish the season on a high note and build momentum for the following year.
For the Sea Eagles, it will be about finding their winning form again and finishing the season strong.
They will need to tighten up their defense and improve their execution in order to secure a victory.
As for the Bulldogs, they will be aiming to show their fans that they have what it takes to compete at a higher level.
They will need to focus on their discipline and minimize errors if they want to come out on top.
In the end, this match will be a battle of determination and resilience.
Both teams have had their fair share of challenges this season, but they will be looking to end it on a positive note.
Rugby league fans can expect an intense and hard-fought contest as these two teams fight for one last victory.