NRL: Tigers looking forward not back

Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall. Photo / Getty Images

Twelve months on from having their NRL final hopes virtually ended by Parramatta, Wests Tigers say there has been no talk of payback ahead on Sunday's showdown at Parramatta Stadium.

The game has already sold out, as the Eels look to keep alive their 2010 season, with the fourth-placed Tigers already certain of a first finals appearance in five years.

A year ago, a Jarryd Hayne-inspired Parramatta ran out 26-18 winners in one of the clashes of the season, but Tigers backrower Chris Heighington and coach Tim Sheens say the match has not been mentioned in their build-up to the game.

"It will be a full house out at Parra and it should be a great game, but losing last year is forgotten, we don't owe them anything, we are just going to go out there and get into them," said Heighington, who will make 150th appearance for the club on Sunday.

"I think top four finish and a home semi is imperative to win the premiership and it starts at Parra this weekend, that is our focus, not what happened last year."

Sheens echoed the statements of Heighington and said his side had no-one to blame but themselves for missing the top-eight last year after losing to the Gold Coast in round 25.

"They didn't put us out last year, we had to win one more game and we lost," Sheens said.

"From our point of view that was very disappointing, but we are not talking about revenge, that is for the media to beat up or for an angle.

"We have already beaten them this season, so really that game is not an issue."

Heighington did admit that making the finals for the first time since the grand final win in 2005 has released the pressure valve on the players and this made the Tigers a dangerous side for opponents.

"It has been pretty bad over the last five years not making the finals and I think we are pretty much guaranteed one now, hopefully we can win the next three and go into them with a bit of form," he said.

"It has relieved us of the pressure a little bit and hopefully with that freedom we can hurt other teams, but we know Parra are going to be tough so we need to the basics right."

"But I would like to think there is a bit of pressure off us and we can relax and win and get a home semi."

Heighington also said he is still waiting to hear if England are interested in selecting him for their squad for the Four Nations competition in October and November.

The 28-year-old qualifies for England through his Durham-born father and admitted he would love the chance to play after being constantly overlooked by NSW and Country Origin selectors.

"I haven't heard from England and no-one has got in touch with me I haven't with them," he said.

"There is still another three weeks to go before the season finishes and about eight weeks until the Four Nations starts so there is no hurry just yet," he said.

- AAP