CANTERBURY v ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA (ANZ Stadium, Friday, 7:35pm) 

To steal a cliché from the American sporting lexicon, Canterbury are what they are. There is no pretension and little mystery about Kevin Moore's side. They beat the teams they should and lose to those who are better. At the moment, St George-Illawarra are a much better team, both on paper and on the park.  These two teams met back in round five at a rain-sodden SCG and the final score of 25-6 probably flattered Canterbury even though the match did turn on a Darius Boyd intercept as the Bulldogs were in the throes of a comeback. In four of their last five matches, Canterbury have finished with no more than a single try with the Dragons' vaunted defence proving impenetrable for Canterbury's often predictable attack. Off a bye, Canterbury should do a sound job containing the likes of Jamie Soward and Darius Boyd, particularly with both coming into this off an injury, but they may struggle to find the necessary points to win with Trent Hodkinson probably needing to play his best game if the Bulldogs are to be any chance. Expect a hard-fought, bruising, low-scoring encounter with the Dragons having just a few too many points in them for Canterbury. 

BPL Tip: St George-Illawarra by 8
TAB Sportsbet odds: Canterbury $2.65, St George-Illawarra $1.48 

PENRITH v BRISBANE (Centrebet Stadium, Friday, 7:35pm) 

For what will most likely be the final time, Darren Lockyer and Petero Civoniceva will share the field in a club match. Two of the great modern day players, Lockyer and Civoniceva played in three Brisbane premiership sides together, have led Queensland to five straight series wins and have played Test match rugby league together for a decade. Petero may well have home field here but it is hard to see Penrith getting into this match with Lockyer likely to farewell Penrith a winner. The Panthers have been soundly beaten in three of four at home while the "Baby Broncos" were outstanding in almost rolling Melbourne last week. The return of their big names and Brisbane's road defence that has conceded an average of 9 points a game suggests the Broncos should record a comfortable victory. 

BPL Tip: Brisbane by 10
TAB Sportsbet: Penrith $2.60, Brisbane $1.50 

MELBOURNE v CANBERRA (AAMI Park, Saturday, 5:30pm) 

Do or die came for the Canberra Raiders a fortnight back and after an insipid loss at home to the Tigers by 37 points followed by the duck egg they laid at Brookvale against Manly, it is hard to picture David Furner's team turning it around against the best home team in the NRL. The Storm are 61-9-1 in Melbourne in their last 71 and Canberra haven't won in Melbourne in 11 years, going 16-1 against the Storm since 2002. The Raiders are lifeless in attack while the Storm are a stifling defensive unit capable of holding out the most potent and disciplined of attacks. Even if Matt Orford and Josh McCrone find their best form and the Raiders start tackling with some intent, Canberra are still likely in for an almighty touch up. 

BPL Tip: Melbourne by 30
TAB Sportsbet: Melbourne $1.15, Canberra $5.25 

NORTH QUEENSLAND v PARRAMATTA (Dairy Farmers Stadium, Saturday, 7:30pm) 

The Cowboys have sneaked under the radar this year on their way to a 6-3 record with much of their success, quite surprisingly, built on a sturdy defence. Dallas Johnson, arguably the buy of the year, is the backbone of said defence but it has been the improved tackling of the outside backs that has been the major driver behind their improvement. Jarryd Hayne returns for Parramatta after a two-week suspension and with his Origin hopes as well as his team's season on the line, he should be in for a big game. If he can't lift for this match, he'll never lift. Parramatta have won five on the trot against the Cowboys and with Hayne set for a big return, this match should be closer than most are anticipating. 

BPL Tip: North Queensland by 2
TAB Sportsbet: North Queensland $1.43, Parramatta $2.85 

SOUTH SYDNEY v WESTS TIGERS (ANZ Stadium, Saturday, 7:30pm) 

There is always something special about a Bunnies-Tigers match, dating all the way back to 1909 when South Sydney reneged on an agreement with Balmain not to play the Grand Final as a lead-up match to a Kangaroos-Wallabies clash, gifting Souths the title and giving birth to a rivalry that holds to this day. Both teams have been crippled by injury this year with the Wests Tigers fielding a near unrecognisable backline while South Sydney have only one recognised prop. Tim Sheens is a bright coach and he'll play this one in close to the ruck, making it a physical arm-wrestle between the two packs. That is a battle the Tigers should win and win well. No Greg Inglis will also hurt South Sydney as he is the Bunnies only outside back, the only three-quarter with any real punch. When these two met in round five, the Tigers won 30-6 though they had the worst of it with injuries. It is hard to see Souths turning the tables this time around. 

BPL Tip: Wests Tigers by 13
TAB Sportsbet: South Sydney $3.25, Wests Tigers $1.33 

NEWCASTLE v NEW ZEALAND (Ausgrid Stadium, Sunday, 2:00pm) 

Ivan Cleary deserves his due: his highly touted team opened the season 0-3 and Cleary sought answers, axing senior players and reshuffling his team. The result has been five victories in their last six matches including two wins in Australia. New Zealand are now one of the form teams and sit below only the Dragons, Storm and Broncos in terms of the fear they bring to opposition teams. Newcastle are an honest team but no more and if the Warriors play to their best, they should record another Australian win. The loss of Sam Rapira hurts but Russell Packer is more than capable of filling the breach. The Warriors have won 8 of 10 against Newcastle and 4 of 6 at Ausgrid Stadium and that good record should be extended on Sunday. 

BPL Tip: New Zealand by 6
TAB Sportsbet: Newcastle $1.72, New Zealand $2.10 

CRONULLA v SYDNEY ROOSTERS (Toyota Park, Sunday, 3:00pm) 

Two maligned halves go head-to-head this week with both praying for a win and that first step towards redemption. Todd Carney returns to the Roosters No.6 jersey and will be hoping to find even a bad impersonation of the form he displayed in 2010 while Tim Smith, hammered from pillar-to-post last year and returning to first grade in round eight with an ordinary performance, is about to have last drinks called if he can't find something. The Sharks have won three of their last four against the Roosters but with Nathan Gardner and Jeremy Smith still sidelined and Cronulla 0-8 in their eight day games dating back to the start of the 2010 season, the Roosters should have just a little too much class, even as they battle internal disruption after internal disruption. 

BPL Tip: Sydney Roosters by 4
TAB Sportsbet: Cronulla $2.75, Sydney Roosters $1.45 

GOLD COAST v MANLY (Skilled Park, Monday, 7:00pm) 

The Gold Coast were ripped apart last week by an aggressive Warriors pack but match up much better with Manly who, aside from Anthony Watmough, have a fairly docile bunch of forwards. Manly had few problems in disposing of Canberra on Monday night but that isn't really much of a form indicator. Brett Stewart looked good in his return but he is still a way off his best yet. The real key to this match is the Titans forwards: if Luke Bailey and Greg Bird can bend the line and create second phase play, they can take it to a Manly side playing good rugby league but if they lose the middle and play straight up-and-down then the Eagles will get them on the fringes where Jamie Lyon and Kieran Foran will wreak havoc. I expect the better match-up to have the Titans right in this but current form is counting significantly against them. 

BPL Tip: Manly by 2
TAB Sportsbet: Gold Coast $2.45, Manly $1.55