Cronulla Sharks (4th) vs North Queensland Cowboys (5th) – Friday night – Allianz Stadium

This will be third time these sides square off against each other this year. In round 6, the Sharks teared the Cowboys apart (42-6) in Sydney. More recently, the Cowboys won 30-22 in round 21 in Townsville. I'm assuming the second game is a more accurate reflection of where these sides stand, particularly with this game moving to the slightly more neutral venue. There'll be no shortage of Cowboys fans at the ground, enough that the Cowboys have had to organise a charter flight to get to the game. Getting their own plane has to help with the travel a little, but they still have to travel. Importantly, the Cowboys have won 5 of 7 games in Sydney this season, including their last four. That string of wins coincides with an improvement in the Cowboys form, and that last win in Sydney was just a fortnight ago over the Bulldogs (44-6). The Sharks are already grumpy because they have to travel almost 25 kilometres from the construction site they call home. It's 2075 less kilometres than their opponents have to travel but, unfair apparently. Note that the Sharks have won just two games in Sydney this season away from their spiritual home, and one of those wins (against the Rabbitohs) barely counts. Jesse Ramien has been named on an extended bench and will be named if he's fit to play. He's a handy inclusion as it puts Talakai back on the interchange, and bolsters the Sharks formidable pack of forwards. It feels like the world is trying to unravel the mind of one of the nicest guys in rugby league - a tad unfair on Nicho Hynes. He's not at his absolute best right now and it looks like all the pressure is taking a toll. A must-win final isn't the sort of place where you want to be testing your mettle. I mentioned this last week and I'll mention it again. If this is close, the goal-kicking of Valentine Holmes could win this game. I'm predicting this is close, and that Holmes gets the Cowboys home.

Verdict – Cowboys by 2

Sydney Roosters (3rd) vs Manly Sea Eagles (7th) – Saturday night – Allianz Stadium

As per the Friday night game, these sides have already met twice this season, and as per the Friday night game, they last met in round 21. The Chooks prevailed 34-30 at this very stadium, and while that looks close the Sea Eagles scored two tries in the last ten minutes to narrow the final margin. There's been some line-up changes for both sides since then - the Chooks had Walker, Brandon Smith and Radley playing in round 21, and the Sea Eagles had Jason Saab. The Chooks didn't have Manu or Waerea-Hargreaves, while Manly didn't have Olakau'atu, Croker or Koula. The return of Lodge and Waerea-Hargreaves looks like a headline waiting to happen. Let's see which one of them gets sin binned on Saturday night - it wouldn't surprise me if it's both. Tom Trbojevic got through the game last week with one good shoulder. You can see why they are risking it, but it's a risk. If he's escorted out with his arm in a sling in the first 20 minutes it's hard to imagine the Sea Eagles winning this. His Roosters counterpart, James Tedesco, racks up game number 250 on Saturday. I'm not sure if that sort of numerical milestone gets much attention, but he's still bouncing around like a pinball after all these years, and is a constant threat in attack. You wouldn't think the venue would be so important when the game is between two Sydney-based teams, but the Sea Eagles away record is the worst of the six teams still in contention, and by a hefty margin. Given that, and my doubts about Turbo getting through another 80 minutes has me lookin at the Chookins.

Verdict – Roosters by 8

Wally Lewis - week two finals selections (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published on Thursday night

• Sharks (4th) vs Cowboys (5th)
• Roosters (3rd) vs Sea Eagles (7th)