Penrith Panthers vs Melbourne Storm – Thursday night – CommBank Stadium

Fourth plays second and, according to the bookies, one of these two teams is most likely to win the premiership this season. When last they met, way back in round 3 in Melbourne, the Storm prevailed 30-24 in wet conditions. Showers are expected in Sydney tomorrow, so more of the same on the weather front. What is different is the line-ups, with the Storm missing a number of players who were available in round 3 (Papenhuyzen, Hughes, Asofa-Solomona, Howarth). The Panthers were without Edwards in round 3, and he's an important cog in the Panthers machinery. Missing for the Panthers on Thursday night is Yeo, at least as important to the Panthers as Edwards. That said, they scored 48 points without him last week. The Storm will look to utilise Coates and his skills under the high balls at every opportunity, so you can back him to score a try or two with some confidence. If the Panthers can minimise the damage there, they look to have an edge elsewhere. The Panthers have a difficult few weeks ahead of them. A top four finish beckons, but they need to win this. I think they will. Cleary to slot a lazy field goal for fun at some point to shore up the result.

Verdict - Panthers by 7

Result - Storm 22 defeated Panthers 18

New Zealand Warriors vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Friday night – Go Media Stadium

On recent form you'd be tipping the Dragons in this, following back to back victories over teams entrenched in the top eight (Raiders and Sharks). Especially so given the Warriors have lost three in a row, and two of those were at home to the Titans and Dolphins. But I'm choosing to ignore all that, perhaps foolishly, for a number of reasons. The Dragons last two wins were at home where they have been a much better team in general. Note that their last five away games were all losses. While they've been good of late, they don't have a lot to play for, and it's a lot harder to get up for these away games when the result doesn't mean a lot, especially so when the road trip is in a plane to another country. As for the Warriors, they have just two more games at home for the regular season, and they need to make a statement or risk tumbling out of the top eight altogether. They lost Capewell and Martin this week, which won't help, but what will help is the return of Egan at dummy-half. Never underestimate the value of a creative number nine, and he will make things a lot easier for the returning Boyd in the halves. In round ten, the Warriors beat the Dragons at Wollongong by a solitary point. I think they can repeat the result at home.

Verdict - Warriors by 1

Result - Warriors 14 defeated Dragons10

Sydney Roosters vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Friday night – Allianz Stadium

In a round brimming with fascinating match-ups this is likely to be the best of them. Depending on other results in the round, the Bulldogs could move into the top two and the Roosters can force their way into the top eight. For the Dogs (and the NRL), a top two finish comes with truckloads of money, given they will get to host a home game in week one of the finals in a venue only they could come close to filling. These sides met in round 11 where the Bulldogs won 24-20. For those who can't recall, that was the game where the Chooks led 14-0 at half-time, only for the Dogs to mount a second half comeback and announce to all they need to be taken seriously as a premiership contender. That Dogs side didn't include Galvin in the halves, but it did include Tracey at fullback who is currently unavailable. Even more importantly, the Chooks were without Sam Walker in round 11, and they are clearly a more formidable attacking side with him on the park. They scored 11 tries last week playing away from home, and their attack may not have peaked yet. Importantly, there aren't many better goalkickers than Sam Walker. In what is likely to be a close game that may prove the difference.

Verdict - Roosters by 4

Result - Roosters 32 defeated Bulldogs 12

Cronulla Sharks vs Gold Coast Titans – Saturday afternoon – Sharks Stadium

For two weeks in a row the Titans have been told by the NRL that the officials got it wrong and it cost them dearly. Hard to swallow when you're desperately trying to get yourself off the bottom of the ladder, and you're playing for the future of your coach and your captain (who is going to have to make a big decision about his future soon). Note that their captain (Fa'asuamaleaui) is back on Saturday, and he's not alone, with Sami, Kini and Fotuaika back in the starting thirteen. It's a fair line-up for a team running last. This is the sort of game the Sharks might take lightly and lose, but the Sharks already did that last week. Given that, the coach will have them focused and fired up, so they aren't likely to fumble the game two weeks in a row. Even if they did, the officials are likely to gift them the result with another inadvertent error.

Verdict - Sharks by 4

Result - Sharks 54 defeated Titans 22

Brisbane Broncos vs Redcliffe Dolphins – Saturday night – Suncorp Stadium

Some of the shine has come off this contest, with both teams facing significant challenges if they wish to play a leading role in the finals series this season. For the Broncos, losing one player to a hamstring injury is unlucky, losing two is dreadfully unlucky, and I don't have a polite way to describe what losing three is. Major line-up changes on the back of the injuries to that tragic trio - Walters and Hunt are the new halves pairing, with Karapani getting a recall on the wing to replace Cobbo. I doubt there's a good time to lose both your halves to injury, but a few weeks out from the finals is dreadful timing. As for the Dolphins, no-one concedes 64 points in 80 minutes of football unless there's some issues somewhere. Granted the Roosters were red hot and it may have been one of those games where the Chooks would have beaten everyone, but 64 is a little bit yikes. Often teams bounce back from these 50+ losses with a vastly improved performance, and you'd be hoping for something like that on Saturday given the crowd that is likely to turn up. I doubt I'll have a lot of company, but I'm tipping the Dolphins in what would be a fair upset. In what I think will be a contest, the goal-kicking of Isaako might get them lads from the peninsula over the line. I'm honestly not sure who kicks for the Broncos with Reynolds out, but whoever it is won't be as reliable as Isaako.

Verdict - Dolphins by 4

Result - Broncos 38 defeated Dolphins 28

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Parramatta Eels – Saturday night – Allianz Stadium

Two sides that racked up victories last week, but neither was super impressive while doing so, and both had their share of luck. The Rabbits broke a nine-game losing streak with the win, and have probably dodged a dreaded wooden spoon in doing so. The return of Mitchell probably meant the difference between winning and losing, as is often the case. His brother lines up alongside him on Saturday night, for his first game of the season. No changes for the Eels, who won last week thanks to a perfectly slotted field goal from Mitchell Moses. When he hangs up the boots, Moses will make a handy addition to any team as a kicking and acting coach, two skills of great value in the modern game. Note that Johnston is one hatrick away from equalling Ken Irvine. It probably won't happen this weekend, but it's worth keeping at least half an eye on this in case it does.

Verdict - Eels by 7

Result - Rabbitohs 20 defeated Eels 16

Wests Tigers vs Manly Sea Eagles – Sunday afternoon – Allianz Stadium

D-Day for the Sea Eagles, although I feel like I've been saying that for a while now. They're still a chance of making the top eight, particularly so if the Roosters and Dolphins lose earlier in the round. Given their points differential they still have it all in front of them, but their run into the finals means it's not impossible. Hopoate returns for Manly but has to be content with a role on the wing, with Turbo back in his preferred position. These sides met not so long ago, when Manly prevailed 28-10 in round 17. That was a dominant win, but this Tigers line-up is much improved. Closer than most may assume, I'll tip Cherry-Evans to win the game in extra time.

Verdict - Sea Eagles by 1

Result - Tigers 26 defeated Sea Eagles 12

North Queensland Cowboys vs Newcastle Knights – Sunday afternoon – Queensland County Bank Stadium

Before these sides jet off to Las Vegas next season, they meet on Sunday in the entertainment capital of the north. This isn't the Cowboys last home game this season but it could be the last home game they can win. With that in mind, I'm tipping the Cowboys can put it all together for 80 minutes and give their fans at home something to cheer about.

Verdict - Cowboys by 8

Result - Cowboys 38 defeated Knights 4

Wally Lewis - round twenty four selections (in bold)

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

• PANTHERS vs Storm
• WARRIORS vs Dragons
• Roosters vs BULLDOGS
• SHARKS vs Titans
• BRONCOS vs Dolphins
• Rabbitohs vs EELS
• Tigers vs SEA EAGLES
• COWBOYS vs Knights