Hooker Nathan Peats is set to make a timely return for Parramatta with coach Brad Arthur predicting a torrid battle up the middle against Canterbury on Friday night.
Arthur admits the forecast wet conditions could force his flashy Eels to do more of the hard stuff than usual in the NRL clash at ANZ Stadium.
The Eels coach has been pleased with the way his pack has measured up, but says the giant Bulldogs outfit, boasting the likes of James Graham and David Klemmer, provide a huge test for his engine room.
Parramatta have renewed confidence after three straight wins and sit just two points outside the top eight and one win behind eighth-placed Canterbury.
"It's nice, but we can't get carried away. This is another big test for us against a very physical forward pack who like to dominate you through the middle," Arthur said on Thursday.
"We've been reasonably happy with our forwards but after tomorrow night we'll get a better indication of how they are travelling."
Rated by many as NSW's second-best hooker behind Robbie Farah, Peats had his Origin chances cruelled by a knee injury in round 14 against Melbourne last month.
But Arthur said the 24-year-old was tracking well for a spot against the Bulldogs.
Arthur slammed his side's attack at-all-costs approach in their last-start 28-16 win over Wests Tigers.
"We had too much of that attitude and we weren't prepared to roll the sleeves up and run the ball hard first," he said.
"If we do that, then maybe some opportunities will come to our edges."
Bulldogs coach Des Hasler identified mercurial halfback Chris Sandow as the key man in the Eels' resurgence.
"You just don't know what he's going to do at a particular time," Hasler said.
"He got them out of a couple of sticky situations and he's won games for them. It's working well for them."
NSW halfback Trent Hodkinson returns for the Bulldogs after being rested against the Broncos.
Should the ball get to the edges, fans are in for a treat with both left wingers - Curtis Rona and Semi Radradra - sharing the competition try-scoring lead with 16 each.
STATS THAT MATTER
*Canterbury has dominated this clash recently with eight wins from their past nine against the Eels since 2011.
* Fullback Brett Morris has a good recent record against the Eels, with nine tries in his past 10 matches against them including three in his past two at ANZ Stadium against Parramatta.
* This will be the 19th consecutive match and 24th overall between these teams at ANZ Stadium, with the Bulldogs holding the upper hand winning over 60 per cent of the games there.
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