NORTH QUEENSLAND v BRISBANE  (Dairy Farmers Stadium, Friday, 7:35pm)

Both Darren Lockyer, who will become the first player to reach 350 first grade games this Friday, and the North Queensland Cowboys entered the big league in 1995. The Cowboys were flogged 32-16 by Canterbury and lost their next six before rolling Illawarra. Darren Lockyer debuted in a 60-16 win over Parramatta and lost only three of the eleven matches he played in that season. Since that memorable season, Lockyer has won four premierships, played 33 finals matches, won 231 NRL games and has represented Australia 59 times. By contrast, the Cowboys are still searching for their first premiership (yet have three wooden spoons), have played 10 finals matches, won only 149 games and have had seven players represent Australia 46 times. When Lockyer first encountered the Cowboys, it was round five 1996 and Lockyer's Broncos won 58-14. Since that meeting, Lockyer has lost to the Cowboys only five times in 28 appearances, scoring nine tries (his third most against a single club) and 91 points (his second most against a single club) in the process. On the night he passes Terry Lamb's and Steve Menzies' all-time games record, it appears as if history will indeed repeat and Lockyer will once again collect the spoils.

BPL Tip: Brisbane by 8
TAB Sportsbet odds: North Queensland $2.10, Brisbane $1.72

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

It is often forgotten after successful coaching stints with Canberra and the Wests Tigers that Tim Sheens is a Penrith legend, a bustling prop forward who played 166 games before coaching the club for four seasons, leading them into their first finals match when coaching them in 1985. There seemed a very real prospect that Sheens may have returned "home" next year when his contract was being negotiated early in the season but Sheens rejected a big-money play to become the prodigal son to stay at the Tigers. The two teams have again been brought together in recent months with speculation of a division in the Tigers ranks that saw Chris Heighington and Beau Ryan offered releases to join the Panthers. Those rumours have seemingly been put to bed in recent weeks as the Tigers found form with classy wins over Manly and St George-Illawarra. Penrith coach Steve Georgallis is trying a few things this week, namely playing Michael Jennings at fullback, but the Panthers are missing too many personnel to compete against the in-form Tigers.

BPL Tip: Wests Tigers by 10
TAB Sportsbet odds: Penrith $2.75, Wests Tigers $1.45

NEW ZEALAND v NEWCASTLE (Mt Smart Stadium, Saturday, 5:30pm)

New Zealand may have suffered a loss at the hands of Brisbane last Saturday night but they lost few admirers in a courageous performance. The Warriors halves were outstanding with halfback Shaun Johnson showing he is one of the most exciting young talents in the NRL while James Maloney continues to develop into a five-eighth of genuine quality.  With exciting young fullback Kevin Locke and an enthusiastic and well-balanced forward pack, the future at the club is bright. But the Warriors can still make plenty of waves in Ivan Cleary's final term as it all seems to click at the business end of the season. Newcastle sit only a spot below them on the table and have ran in 90 points over the last two weeks but there does appear to be a fair gulf between the two teams. New Zealand has won 9 of 11 against the Knights with Newcastle not winning at Mt Smart since 2005. The class edge in the halves will prove key while Jarrod Mullen's poor kicking game will be costly with Kevin Locke at the back.

BPL Tip: New Zealand by 16
TAB Sportsbet odds: New Zealand $1.45, Newcastle $2.75

PARRAMATTA v MANLY (Parramatta Stadium, Saturday, 7:30pm)

Between 1976 and 1983, Manly and Parramatta played in nine finals matches including the premiership deciders in 1982 and 1983. The two teams split those finals matches but it was Parramatta who were supreme in the Grand Finals. The rivalry led to this classic advertisement from Tooheys. There will be no finals matchup this year, however, and certainly no ad either with Parramatta managing only five wins and a draw in 2011. They enter this clash off a horrific 50-point thrashing at the hand of Souths, the first time in eight years the Eels had allowed 50 points and their first 50-point defeat since St George rolled them 56-6 in 1995. Such are the depths Parramatta are currently plummeting. Manly, who are just rolling through teams are present, should have few problems with the Eels. Manly have won all 12 matches in Sydney this year and will make it 13 on Saturday night with a disciplined showing.

BPL Tip: Manly by 16
TAB Sportsbet odds: Parramatta $3.00, Manly $1.40

GOLD COAST v MELBOURNE (Skilled Park, Saturday, 7:30pm)

It has been six seasons since the wooden spooner (or at least the team with the fewest wins) has beaten the eventual minor premier but that is the prospect facing both minor premier-elect Melbourne and raging hot favourites for the wooden spoon, Gold Coast. This suggests that the Storm are on their way to a win or Parramatta, the Sydney Roosters and Canberra should fear finishing on that last rung of the premiership ladder. It is likely to be the former. Nothing has gone right for the Titans, who enter this match without Scott Prince, Ashley Harrison and Nathan Friend, three of their best five players with Greg Bird, their fourth, also in doubt. That does not bode well against a team that contains Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater. The Storm hammered the Titans 40-12 when these two met in round two and both teams have been on divergent paths since. The Storm are going to put on a mighty score here as the biggest favourites of the season.

BPL Tip: Melbourne by 28
TAB Sportsbet odds: Gold Coast $6.25, Melbourne $1.12

CANBERRA v SOUTH SYDNEY (Canberra Stadium, Sunday, 2:00pm)

Canberra Raiders coach David Furner's record went to 29-41 when the Raiders were embarrassed by Newcastle last Sunday. Despite entering the season as a team expected to make the eight, the Raiders have managed just six wins in 2011. It came as no surprise that Canberra missed the jump. After starting the season 2-7 and 3-6 in their previous two seasons under Furner, the Raiders started 1-8, a clear indication that the Raiders entered the season underprepared and underdone. They bounced back last year. This year, they have never looked likely. South Sydney were also slow out of the blocks. Disappointing after big-name stars Greg Inglis, John Sutton and Dave Taylor underperformed, Souths have limped through the year but have finally got their act together with a magnificent comeback win against the Dragons before a complete annihilation of Parramatta on Monday night. The key to this match will be the ruck. The Raiders enter the clash without a recognised hooker while South Sydney have the in-form Issac Luke. The Bunnies won at Canberra Stadium last year and can make it two straight on Sunday.

BPL Tip: South Sydney by 6
TAB Sportsbet odds: Canberra $2.10, South Sydney $1.72

ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA v SYDNEY ROOSTERS (WIN Stadium, Sunday, 3:00pm)

A year is a long time in rugby league. And so it is for these two teams. For St George-Illawarra, this Grand Final replay could not come soon enough. The defending premiers are floundering, winning only twice since round 13, having slipped to fifth on the ladder after blowing sizable leads in the last three weeks. For the Sydney Roosters, this match is a stiff reminder of better times. After entering the season on a high after running the Dragons to a game in the Grand Final, the Roosters have won only six games as they have lurched from one off-field disaster to another. They are currently mired in the latest scandal, which saw three players, including recidivists Todd Carney and Nate Myles, break a two-week booze ban only seven nights in. The Dragons have won 11 of 13 against the Roosters including six straight since 2009 with the Roosters scoring only 12 tries in their last eight games against the Red V. A weakened Roosters outfit is going to struggle against a Dragons team desperate to reignite their title hopes.

BPL Tip: St George-Illawarra by 16
TAB Sportsbet odds: St George-Illawarra $1.20, Sydney Roosters $4.50

CRONULLA v CANTERBURY (Toyota Stadium, Monday, 7:00pm)

The last time Canterbury lost twice to the Sharks in a season, or consecutive games for that matter, was back in 2000 when Cronulla won 14-4 and 26-14. After the Sharks decimated the Bulldogs in round 15, a critical loss for Canterbury, they get the chance to achieve same on Monday night. The Bulldogs again enter the match in need of a win. Jim Dymock's team must win all four of their remaining matches and hope results go their way to be any hope of playing finals football. Canterbury have won five of six at Toyota Stadium and with Paul Gallen facing a week on the sideline due to suspension, the Bulldogs should get the money in and around the middle where Josh Reynolds will need to play with plenty of spark.

BPL Tip: Canterbury by 8
TAB Sportsbet odds: Cronulla $2.45, Canterbury $1.55