Stuart won't be added motivation: Eels

The Parramatta Eels insist facing Canberra and former coach Ricky Stuart won't be any added fuel to win this weekend.

Facing a do-or-die NRL clash with Canberra on Saturday, Parramatta insist rubbing salt into former coach Ricky Stuart's wounds is the last thing on their minds.

Stuart, who walked out on the Eels to coach the Raiders this year, could end Parramatta's top-eight hopes by masterminding their defeat this weekend.

The 10th-placed Eels are still in the hunt to snare a finals berth should they beat the Raiders and other results go their way.

Making the finals after back-to-back wooden spoons will no doubt be motivation enough.

And far from wanting to prove to Stuart how far they've come since his departure, prop Tim Mannah insists rebounding from their shock 42-12 loss to Newcastle last week is all the incentive they need.

"It's not an added motivation at all," he said.

"Ricky's moved on to a new club, we've moved on. That's a long way behind us now.

"For us the only motivation we've got this week is to go out there and play the best footy we can.

"The Raiders gave us a run for our money over in Darwin. They're a quality team.

"But for us we're not really worried about who we're playing. After the weekend's performance against Newcastle we're just thinking about how we can play our best footy."

Canberra, who sit 15th on the ladder with seven wins, come into the clash off back-to-back victories over Cronulla and Wests Tigers.

Eels prop David Gower expects they'll be wanting to end their campaign on a similar high.

"They're playing a risk-free, care-free sort of footy and that's dangerous," he said.

"They've won two in a row so they're going to be confident and playing at home they're going to be a tough team to beat."

Gower, who was part of Manly's run into the grand final last season, knows there's a lot that separates Parramatta from the front-running Sea Eagles, but says the Eels have what it takes to be contenders.

"I think the difference here at Parramatta is when we're on we're on and when we're a little flat we're not as effective as them," he said.

"Manly hang in the contest in every game and they showed that on the weekend by getting out of jail.

"But I think as team when we're playing our best footy we're a hard team to beat and I give us every chance."


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