Newcastle Knight vs Wests Tigers – Friday night – McDonald Jones Stadium

With just three wins for the season and the worst attack in the NRL, the Tigers primary focus now is to avoid a wooden spoon and built toward a more competitive squad for next season. They also have no more byes for the year, while the two other teams near them on the ladder have one guaranteed 'win' remaining. A few positives for the Tigers though, with Koroisau returning from his jaw injury, and try-scoring machine Alex Twal back from suspension. The Tigers have won just one game away from home this season, and that was played underwater at a neutral venue. It was however, against a full strength Panthers. That win, and their big win over the Cowboys, proves that there is the kernel of a football team in there...somewhere. Meanwhile the Knights have named their Origin players (Best and J Saifiti) for this game - both should be in good spirits after a NSW win on Wednesday. The Knights have won four from seven at home this season, including some fair scalps (Raiders, Warriors). When they have lost at home it's usually a contest, including an extra time loss to the Panthers. The Knights won't have given up on a top eight finish yet. It will be hard from here, but a win here is a necessity or they can kiss that goal goodbye.

Verdict – Knights by 8

Result – Knights 34 defeated Tigers 18

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Brisbane Broncos – Saturday afternoon – Belmore Sports Ground

The Bulldogs will take some confidence out of their win over the Rabbitohs last week. A win is a win, but they still conceded 32 points, and you won't win a lot of football games when you do that. That said, I can smell an upset here. The Broncos pack will be without Haas, Carrigan, Flegler and Riki and their back three won't include Oates or Walsh. Someone else, and more than one, will need to put their hand up and make some metres for the away team on Saturday. They won't have much crowd support either, with the Bulldogs faithful usually filling the joint when they get a rare home game at Belmore. The Bulldogs have named Addo-Carr, but I thought he got carried away in a hearse late in the game on Wednesday night. Perhaps I was mistaken, but there's a watch on whether he'll be lining up in this. The Broncos are a clear favourite and rightly so, but if you were considering tipping an upset here, I wouldn't talk you out of it.

Verdict – Bulldogs by 2

Result – Broncos 44 defeated Bulldogs 24

Manly Sea Eagles vs North Queensland Cowboys – Saturday night – 4 Pines Park

It's 10th against 9th, but the Cowboys look a much more likely finalist this season than the Sea Eagles. Both teams are returning from a bye but the Cowboys but both teams had key players suiting up for Origin game three. All have been named for Saturday night, but it's worth keeping an eye out for late changes. If the Cowboys are a top eight team (and I think they are), the Sea Eagles are likely to struggle. Their last four games against top eight opponents (Sharks, Broncos, Panthers, Rabbitohs) have resulted in four losses. In the Cowboys last four games they've scored an incredible 177 points and conceded just 49. That's solid form, made even more solid when you consider that three of those opponents were the Storm, Panthers and Rabbitohs. Gus Gould thinks the Cowboys are the only team that can stop the Panthers winning three premierships in a row this season. I'm not quite in Camp Gus, but the northerners are coming good at the right time of the year. This won't be easy though. Visiting teams rarely come away from a Saturday night in Manly with the win. The game of the round.

Verdict – Cowboys by 1

Result – Cowboys 19 defeated Sea Eagles 8

Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm – Saturday night – Sydney Cricket Ground

This game can just about make or break the season for the Chooks. They probably need to win this to have any chance of making the eight this season. They're giving themselves every chance, at a venue they play well at, and with the return of Suaalii, Egan Butcher and a pair of Smiths (not related). They've also named Tedesco and Collins. Both had enormous games on Wednesday, but given the importance of this game I expect they will both be playing if they can. The Storm have also named their Origin trio (Munster, Grant, Coates), and Warbrick has been cleared to play after overcoming a head knock. The Storm have an excellent recent record over the Chooks, and I expect their (mostly) well-rested forwards can lay the platform for a win. I expect the Storm haven't given up on a top two finish, so I can't see them taking this game (or any game) lightly.

Verdict – Storm by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Storm 30 defeated Roosters 16

New Zealand Warriors vs Cronulla Sharks – Sunday afternoon – Go Media Stadium

This is one game where we dont have to worry about Origin players backing up this weekend but, ironically, this could be the game where late changes could have the most impact. Shaun Johnson is very very pregnant (at least his partner is), and he won't be playing if an overdue bub finally decides it's time to face the outside world. If he were to play, I'd confidently tip the Warriors in this, who would be particularly keen to deliver a better result at home after their last disappointing loss in Auckland. There's also doubts over Dylan Walker but he's been named too. Those question marks leave me leaning toward the Sharks, but with little confidence.

Verdict – Sharks by 1

​​​​​​​Result – Warriors 44 defeated Sharks 12

Redcliffe Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – Kayo Stadium

The Dolphins picked up a much-needed win against the Titans last start, but only just. They haven't won successive games for quite some time, and it doesn't get much harder than this. The Panthers have named their Origin quartet for Sunday and I expect them to play. When the Panthers have rested players previously they haven't tried to hard that plan from anybody. Mind you, they've named an extended bench of seven for this game, so we can't assume anything. Notably that bench of seven includes Nathan Cleary, but seeing him on the field on Sunday would be a genuine surprise. The Dolphins haven't lost a game at this venue, the field where yours truly was conceived, born and raised. This is hard though. Really hard.

Verdict – Panthers by 14

​​​​​​​Result – Panthers 24 defeated Dolphins 14

Parramatta Eels vs Gold Coast Titans – Sunday night – CommBank Stadium

All seven origin players have been named on Sunday - Gutherson, at least, should be pretty fresh after earning $10000 a minute for his brief stint in Origin 3 when the game was already over. The Titans have three key forwards on the Origin back-up, so I expect the Eels pack can win that contest on Sunday, particularly at home with their fans at their backs. Note that the Titans have won just two of seven games away from home this season, and one of those wins was against the team running last. The Eels were given a footballing lesson by the Warriors at this venue last start, but they had won their previous five games at CommBank in a row. That stint included wins over the Panthers and the Cowboys. I expect a return to form for the Eels with their key players returning to the line-up.

Verdict – Eels by 8

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Result – Eels 25 defeated Titans 24

Wally Lewis - round twenty selections (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or Thursday morning

• KNIGHTS vs Tigers
• Bulldogs vs BRONCOS
• Sea Eagles vs COWBOYS
• Roosters vs STORM
• Warriors vs SHARKS
• Dolphins vs PANTHERS
• EELS vs Titans