The last of the big bye rounds and so there are just four games to be played this week but all of which will still have ramifications on the make-up of the ladder. With some clubs copping an easier ride than others this week given the magnitude of NRL stars out, the pressure is on to live up to the favouritism tag.
Just who will come out on top? Without further adieu, the teams named for Rd 18 of the 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership are:
Sydney Roosters v South Sydney Rabbitohs (#NRLsydsou); Allianz Stadium, Moore Park; Friday, July 7. Kick-off: 7:50 pm.
Roosters: 1. Michael Gordon 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Mitch Aubusson 5. Joseph Manu 6. Connor Watson 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend (C) 10. Zane Tetevano 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Aidan Guerra 13. Isaac Liu.
Interchange: 14. Kane Evans 15. Sio Siua Taukeiaho 16. Lindsay Collins 17. Mitch Cornish 18. Nat Butcher 19. Victor Radley 20. Chris Smith 21. Eloni Vunakece.
Coach: Trent Robinson.
Souths: 1. Cody Walker 2. Alex Johnston 3. Aaron Gray 4. Bryson Goodwin 5. Braidon Burns 6. John Sutton 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Burgess 9. Robbie Farah 10. David Tyrrell 11. Tyrell Fuimaono 12. Angus Crichton 13. Sam Burgess (C).
Interchange: 14. Damien Cook 15. Jason Clark 16. Zane Musgrove 17. George Burgess 18. Anthony Cherrington 19. Kyle Turner 20. Jack Gosiewski 22. Cameron Murray.
Coach: Michael Maguire.
Penrith Panthers v Manly Sea Eagles (#NRLpenman); Pepper Stadium, Penrith; Saturday, July 8. Kick-off: 5:30 pm.
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Josh Mansour 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Waqa Blake 5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 6. Matt Moylan (C) 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Mitch Rein 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Corey Harawira-Naera 12. Isaah Yeo 13. Trent Merrin.
Interchange: 14. Sione Katoa 15. Leilani Latu 16. Tim Browne 17. Sitaleki Akauola 18. Kaide Ellis 19. James Fisher-Harris 20. Viliame Kikau 21. Jed Cartwright.
Coach: Anthony Griffin.
Manly: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Matt Wright 3. Dylan Walker 4. Brian Kelly 5. Akuila Uate 6. Blake Green 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Brenton Lawrence 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Marty Taupau 11. Frank Winterstein 12. Jarrad Kennedy 13. Darcy Lussick.
Interchange: 14. Cameron Cullen 15. Lloyd Perrett 16. Shaun Lane 17. Addin Fonua-Blake 18. Jonathan Wright 19. Jackson Hastings 20. Brad Parker 21. Taniela Paseka.
Coach: Trent Barrett.
Melbourne Storm v Parramatta Eels (#NRLmelpar); AAMI Park, Melbourne; Saturday, July 8. Kick-off: 7:30 pm.
Storm: 1. Jahrome Hughes 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Curtis Scott 4. Cheyse Blair 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Ryley Jacks 7. Brodie Croft 8. Jesse Bromwich (C) 9. Slade Griffin 10. Jordan McLean 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Tohu Harris 13. Dale Finucane.
Interchange: 14. Kenny Bromwich 15. Nate Myles 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Joe Stimson 18. Tui Kamikamica 19. Young Tonumaipea 20. Justin Olam 21. Robbie Rochow.
Coach: Craig Bellamy.
Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Semi Radradra 3. Brad Takairangi 4. Michael Jennings 5. Bevan French 6. Corey Norman 7. Mitch Moses 8. Tim Mannah (C) 9. Cameron King 10. Daniel Alvaro 11. Manu Ma’u 12. Tepai Moeroa 13. Nathan Brown.
Interchange: 14. David Gower 15. Kenny Edwards 16. Suaia Matagi 17. Will Smith.
Coach: Brad Arthur.
Canterbury Bulldogs v Newcastle Knights (#NRLcbynew); Belmore Sports Ground; Sunday, July 9. Kick-off: 4 pm.
Bulldogs: 1. Will Hopoate 2. Kerrod Holland 3. Josh Morris 4. Chase Stanley 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Moses Mbye 8. Aiden Tolman (C) 9. Michael Lichaa 10. Danny Fualalo 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Adam Elliott 13. Sam Kasiano.
Interchange: 14. Francis Tualau 15. Asipeli Fine 16. Andy Saunders 17. Matt Frawley 18. Renouf Tooamaga 19. Brad Abbey 20. Rod Griffin 23. Brenko Lee.
Coach: Des Hasler.
Knights: 1. Nathan Ross 2. Chanel Mata’utia 3. Joe Wardle 4. Peter Mata’utia 5. Brendan Elliott 6. Jaelen Feeney 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Danny Levi 10. Josh King 11. Sione Mata’utia 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Mitch Barnett.
Interchange: 14. Jamie Buhrer 15. Luke Yates 16. Sam Stone 17. Jacob Saifiti 18. Brock Lamb 19. Jacob Gagai 20. Tyler Randell 21. Mickey Paea.
Coach: Nathan Brown.