WESTS TIGERS v ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA (Sydney Football Stadium, Friday, 7:35pm)

The two most experienced coaches in the history of Australian rugby league will do battle for the 41st time on Friday night, a game that will have 1278 NRL games worth of coaching experience to go with 11 premierships. Wayne Bennett and Tim Sheens first went into battle in 1987 when Bennett was co-coach at Canberra and Sheens was four years into his time at Penrith. In front of 5,511 hardy souls at Penrith Park, a Matthew Corkery double gave Bennett's Raiders the win. It was an oft-repeated result with Tim Sheens claiming victory only 10 times over the last quarter-century of battle. Dating back to 1996, the Wests Tigers coach has come out on top of Bennett only three times in 24 encounters. Since Bennett has moved to St George-Illawarra, the Dragons have won all four matches by an average margin of 10.5. The Dragons have blown big leads to poor teams the last two week and collected only five premiership points from their last eight encounters but after Wayne Bennett publicly chided his players after the South Sydney debacle, an improved performance is expected. If the Dragons tighten up and force the game into a middle-of-the-field grind, they will prove too strong for a Tigers team not accustomed to winning arm wrestles.

BPL Tip: St George-Illawarra by 8
TAB Sportsbet odds: Wests Tigers $2.30, St George-Illawarra $1.60

CANTERBURY v NORTH QUEENSLAND (ANZ Stadium, Friday, 7:35pm)

Canterbury get one last chance to rescue their wretched season while Jim Dymock will get one last opportunity win the full-time coaching gig. The Bulldogs have been in free-fall and suffered the ignominy of losing to the Sydney Roosters last week but there were signs of life, particularly in attack, where they played with a lot more life and enthusiasm. Centre Josh Morris has been recalled after a two-week spell in the NSW Cup and he will need to be on song to get through one of the better defensive centre combinations in the NRL in Willie Tonga and Brent Tate. Canterbury have won three straight against North Queensland and if they can attack inexperienced Cowboys halves Ben Jones and Ray Thompson, they can steal the two points. If the Bulldogs can't lift for this, they don't deserve a finals berth and Jim Dymock doesn't deserve a full-time coaching job.

BPL Tip: Canterbury by 4
TAB Sportsbet odds: Canterbury $2.00, North Queensland $1.80

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

It has been six years and eight games since Penrith last downed the Storm, a 28-14 win at Olympic Park. Only Luke Lewis and Trent Waterhouse remain from that win with Lewis in doubt for this week after reinjuring his shoulder against the Cowboys while also managing to pick up a concussion and lose half the skin off his face in a courageous effort to score a try. The Panthers can ill-afford to lose Lewis, having already lost a number of key position players including Lachlan Coote, Michael Gordon and Travis Burns. It is here that Melbourne should reign supreme with the likes of Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk all playing at or near their best. Home ground advantage will also play a key factor with the Storm winning 15 of 19 at AAMI Park including seven of nine this year while the Panthers are 3-11 in their last 14 road appearances. This has the potential to get ugly on the scoreboard, particularly if Luke Lewis is a late withdrawal.

BPL Tip: Melbourne by 20
TAB Sportsbet odds: Melbourne $1.15, Penrith $5.25

CRONULLA v GOLD COAST (Toyota Stadium, Saturday, 7:30pm)

One for only the Sharks faithful, itinerant gamblers and rugby league trainspotters, the Sharks-Titans clash does little to arouse too much interest. To make matters worse, the marquee matchup between "Bash Brothers" Paul Gallen and Greg Bird won't take place with Bird not named for the Titans due to a hamstring strain, as Gallen returns from a two-week layoff due to a calf injury. The Titans have both the worst attack and defence in the NRL and their season is long over. Having lost all three matches played between the two at Toyota Stadium and with the Sharks romping to a big 36-12 win when these two met in round 16, expect Cronulla to just have too much desire for a Titans team who lifted the white flag weeks ago.

BPL Tip: Cronulla by 14
TAB Sportsbet odds: Cronulla $1.43, Gold Coast $2.85

BRISBANE v NEW ZEALAND (Suncorp Stadium, Saturday, 7:30pm)

The Brisbane Broncos and the New Zealand Warriors will do battle for the 30th time on Saturday, some 16 years after the Warriors very nearly upset a Broncos powerhouse in the club's first ever match. Led by Dean Bell, and with the likes of Stephen Kearney, Greg Alexander and Phil Blake in the line-up, the then Auckland Warriors led the Brisbane Broncos, whose starting team all played Origin football, for much of the game before being run down in the dying stages to lose 25-22. The Broncos have had the wood on the Warriors for much of the time since, winning 17 of the 29 matches contested, but over the last nine seasons, the Warriors have built a 10-6 advantage up against the Broncos. Last year, they swept Brisbane with a 48-16 touch-up at Suncorp Stadium in round three before winning 36-4 in the second last round of the regular season. The Warriors potent attack worries the Broncos and an upset on Saturday night is not out of the question with wiry halfback Shaun Johnson and big wingers Manu Vatuvei and Bill Tupou the keys. If Johnson can get the backs early ball and the wingers hold their lines, they could be in for a big night with the Broncos wing defence a major weakness.

BPL Tip: New Zealand by 8
TAB Sportsbet odds: Brisbane $1.45, New Zealand $2.75

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

Until Newcastle embarrassed Canberra 22-12 in round seven as the Raiders were deep in the throes of an eight-game losing streak, the previous eight matches between these two teams had gone to the home side. That is not surprising considering the home ground advantage and poor road records each team has had in recent years. As such, it has been six years since the Raiders have won in Newcastle. Considering their highly inconsistent form this year and the very real possibility that outstanding fullback Josh Dugan will miss with an ankle injury, it is hard to see any other result than a Newcastle victory. The Raiders are 2-7 away from Canberra Stadium this year and have allowed 20 points a game on the road. Newcastle just have too much to play for and too much of an advantage at home.

BPL Tip: Newcastle by 7
TAB Sportsbet odds: Newcastle $1.40, Canberra $3.00

MANLY v SYDNEY ROOSTERS (Brookvale Oval, Sunday, 3:00pm)

Everything old is new again and so it seems to be in rugby league with Manly once again the most hated of Sydney of teams after a decade where the Roosters were "the new Manly". With the Eagles once again riding high and the Roosters back occupying the lower rungs of the NRL ladder, Manly are once again Manly and there are few more fearsome places to be than Brookvale Oval on a Sunday afternoon. Manly have played three Sunday afternoon games over the last month and have won them all by an aggregate score of 80 points to 40. Manly have won nine of their last 11 against the Roosters including four straight at Brookvale Oval. Coming off a shock loss to the Wests Tigers, Manly are expected to be switched on and should find plenty of room across the park to put a big score on the struggling Roosters.

BPL Tip: Manly by 16
TAB Sportsbet odds: Manly $1.25, Sydney Roosters $3.85

SOUTH SYDNEY v PARRAMATTA (ANZ Stadium, Monday, 7:00pm)

Parramatta have simply forgotten how to win. In the last three matches, the Eels have lost twice in golden point before blowing an 18-0 lead against Melbourne last Monday. Since their astonishing run to make the 2009 Grand Final, the Eels are an appalling 15-27-1, a disappointing record considering they have one of the highest paid and most naturally talented players in the game in Jarryd Hayne. Parramatta coach Stephen Kearney is hoping South Sydney halfback Chris Sandow will bring out the best in Hayne. The Bunnies No.7 has signed to play with the Eels next year on a big money deal. He will be hoping to guide South Sydney to the finals for only the second time since 1989 first, however, and a win against the Eels would go a long way to that aim. South Sydney are tough to peg, having allowed 48 points at home against the Warriors before overcoming a 20-0 deficit against the defending premiers on Sunday. Souths have won the last two between these foes but they have a tendency to lose when the vinegar is applied and the Eels are nearing a victory. Parramatta can win a close one.

BPL Tip: Parramatta by 2
TAB Sportsbet odds: South Sydney $1.60, Parramatta $2.35