KEY POINTS:
The NRL's top-eight is set. The order from three to eight may change but none of the teams should drop out.
And it looks most likely that the grand final winner will not be any of those teams that have won it since 2000 - the Panthers and
Knights are already gone, the Roosters have only a mathematical chance of making the eight and the Broncos, Bulldogs and Tigers are likely to face the extra test of an away playoff game to start the finals series.
It's possible none of the top-eight teams will win three-from-three as the 25-round competition winds up in the next three weeks: the Storm have to beat the Bulldogs in Sydney, the Dogs play away in Brisbane and Townsville.
The Warriors play just one top-eight side, the Eagles, at Mt Smart and that game is likely to be a sellout. That home advantage is worth points and the Auckland club may be the only one to get through unbeaten, which would guarantee them a top-four spot and a playoff at home.
Momentum is everything going into the playoffs. But as the finals approach, coaches will be almost as nervous about getting through games without suspension and injury as they are about winning.
STORM
Won 18 lost 3, scored 96 tries, 43 conceded. Last five WWLWW.
Pros
Unbeaten at Olympic Park this season and that's where they will play their first finals game and probably a second. So their only away game in the playoffs may be the grand final. They have star players in the key one, six, seven and nine jerseys. Hooker Cameron Smith is the game's best No 9 in terms of ball distribution and defence. Half Cooper Cronk is in solid form. In Greg Inglis they have one of the game's best attackers and Billy Slater is a great kick-returner and broken play runner. And Israel Folau is one of the better finishers.
Cons
Centre Matt King will be missed for the next two to three weeks with a wrist fracture. Ummm? Not much else, unless the refs' policing of their grapples cost penalties and messes with their heads and their game.
***
EAGLES
Won 17 lost 4, scored 94 tries, 48 conceded. Last five WWWWW.
Pros
Great form, based on solid defence. A well-balanced side. They have a decent kicking game from captain Matt Orford, and Michael Monaghan at hooker offers variation in the attack, those two also opening sides up with darting runs to create opportunities for their outsides. Their fullback, Brett Stewart, is in great form with 14 tries this season. Brent Kite and Anthony Watmough are making a big impact up front. Few injury problems.
Cons
Kiwis centre Steve Matai continues to struggle with a neck problem and is a week-by-week proposition. Veteran Steve Menzies lacks pace for a five-eighths. Their style has been to grind games out, but can they cope with the type of flash and dash that the Warriors might turn on?
***
EELS
Won 12 lost 9, scored 82 tries, 75 conceded. Last five WWLWL.
Pros
Depth. They have game-breakers in several positions - Tim Smith at half, fullback/wings Jarryd Hayne and Krisnan Inu, Nathan Cayless and Nathan Hindmarsh plus Fuifui Moimoi up front. Their dummy-half rotation from Mark Riddell and PJ Marsh is always cutting teams open. The Eels boast an injury-free squad bar fullback Luke Burt, whose position is well covered.
Cons
Erratic performances, especially against teams they are supposed to beat. The Eels were boasting they had the best backline in the competition last week, then they went out and got beaten by the lowly Sharks. They have a flaky history in playoffs in recent seasons. There is every reason to suspect they will fold again before making the grand final.
***
COWBOYS
Won 12 lost 9, scored 81 tries, 99 conceded. Last five LLLWW.
Pros
1. Johnathan Thurston, one of the best game-runners running around. 2. Matt Bowen, scintillating at his best, unstoppable when fired up, the top line-breaker this season. The Cowboys have a great home ground record - no team will want to travel to Townsville for a finals game.
Cons
They miss Luke O'Donnell's creativity in the backrow and now Steve Southern is also out injured for the season so depth becomes a problem. Jason Smith is playing on old legs, fine for the season but can he keep pace in the finals? Sione Faumuina's suspension will hurt them. The Cowboys have a negative points differential, having been well beaten several times. If Thurston gets injured, they're finished.
***
WARRIORS
Won 11 lost 9 drawn 1, scored 86 tries, 52 conceded. Last five WWWDW.
Pros
Stability - they have run much the same team out in recent weeks and have no injury woes. Consistency - Steve Price's ground-gain, Micheal Luck's tackle count, Michael Witt's 95 per cent goal-kicking accuracy. Explosive scoring ability - the Warriors are the one team who can score three tries in five minutes to turn a game. Their bench is one of the biggest impact-makers in the game.
Cons
Lots of youth and not too much finals experience outside the old heads. Can they withstand pressure with composure then come from behind if necessary in the big games? Will they revert to their age-old tendency to fold late with errors while trying to play catch-up?
***
BULLDOGS
Won 11 lost 10, scored 89 tries, 70 conceded. Last five LWWLW.
Pros
Sonny Bill Williams, and that's a big one. Willie Mason will return from a wrist fracture next weekend to add impact to their forward pack and Luke Patten is due to return at fullback to solidify their cover defence. Daryl Millard is in good form at centre. Hazem El Masri is kicking at 84 per cent.
Cons
They lack real sting in the halves. They have a tendency to open up in the middle, with Reni Maitua featuring highly on the missed-tackles list. Their bench does not provide the impact of others. Of most concern for the Dogs will be travelling to Brisbane this weekend, returning to face the table-topping Storm in Sydney, then travelling to Townsville for their last game. They seem an unlikely chance to earn a home game for the first week of playoffs.
***
BRONCOS
Won 10 lost 11, scored 80 tries, 65 conceded. Last five WLWLL.
Pros
Been there, done that. They know how to win the big games. That's about it.
Cons
Star players are missing due to injury and will not be back - Darren Lockyer, Brent Tate, Shaun Berrigan. Karmichael Hunt, Michael Ennis and David Stagg should return before finals but will not be match fit. They will also lack real sting in the halves. Too many are out of position - a lock at five-eighths, a prop at lock. This will not be the Broncos' season. They have a tough run home with the Bulldogs this weekend and the Eels at Parramatta to finish. If they stay in the eight it's hard to see them winning their first playoff, which will be away from home.
***
TIGERS
Won 10 lost 11, scored 82 tries, 82 conceded. Last five LLWLL.
Pros
Dally M Medal favourite Robbie Farah, who always delivers front-foot ball and is one of the game's best field kickers. Benji Marshall, the line-breaking maestro. Captain Brett Hodgson's breaks from the back and his goal-kicking accuracy. An unconventional game-plan that can surprise teams, though not so much any more. Depth and cover across the park, except at prop.
Cons
A small forward pack. The Tigers have mixed form, defence fragile at times. They do not have the strike across the park that they did when they lifted the title in 2005.