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Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys Thursday 7:50pm at PointsBet Stadium, Woolooware / Dharawal

Top eight hopefuls face off in do-or-die clash

Sitting outside the top eight on 16 competition points respectively, the Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys will be fighting to remain in the finals race when they face off at PointsBet Stadium on Thursday night.

Regarded as competition dark horses prior to slipping to 11th off the back of five losses in succession, the Cronulla Sharks will be desperate to atone for their wretched run of form by upholding a strong record against the Cowboys in recent times.

Winning six of their past eight clashes against North Queensland, including a 42-16 clinic earlier this season featuring a run of five tries in 17 minutes, coach John Morris will be demanding increased intensity from his players after losing four of their past five clashes despite scoring more tries than their opponents.

Making a number of changes from the team beaten 19-18 in Wellington last Friday, Josh Dugan starts at fullback with Matt Moylan sidelined with a hamstring issue, Braden Hamlin-Uele comes in for suspended prop Andrew Fifita, while 22-year-old forward Billy Magoulias will become the sixth Cronulla player to debut in first grade this season.

Pushing the Rabbitohs for 70 minutes only to fall away 30-18 last Saturday in Townsville, the North Queensland Cowboys will be looking to capitalise upon the Sharks as the fight for top eight places intensifies.

Managing one win from their past five fixtures to sit in 13th position with the worst for-and-against differential of the teams still in the hunt for the finals, coach Paul Green will be approaching Thursday night's clash as a must-win given the Cowboys difficult run home culminating in an away trip to Melbourne in the final round.

Losing their past four visits to Cronulla after starting the decade with four straight wins at the venue, the Cowboys have named an unchanged side with captain Michael Morgan still sidelined after sustaining a concussion in Origin III earlier this month.

Last meeting: Round 3 2019 - Cowboys 16 Sharks 42

Who to watch: Returning to the position that made him a star after accommodating his teammates on the wing and in the centres for much of 2019, Josh Dugan will be out to silence his critics with a strong showing on Thursday night. Coming under intense scrutiny in recent weeks for falling short of his price tag due to injury, the 29-year-old outside back has embodied many of the contrasting fortunes faced by the Sharks this season, despite posting five tries from his past five appearances. Afforded the opportunity to start in the number one jersey with Matt Moylan unavailable, look for Dugan to make a statement with a performance capable of breaking Cronulla's run of five straight losses.

Tasked with the unenviable role of following on from arguably the greatest halfback to ever play the game, Jake Clifford has shown plenty of promise in his first full season as a first grade playmaker. Given the chance to play six matches alongside Johnathan Thurston last season, the 21-year-old Tully Tigers' junior has given a good account of himself as the Cowboys dominant playmaker in the absence of Michael Morgan. Stepping up to keep the Cowboys in the hunt for a finals berth by nailing a field goal against the reigning premiers a fortnight ago, expect Clifford to play without apprehension as he eyes off his maiden win in Sydney as a first grader.

The favourite: Dominating the Cowboys at PointsBet Stadium over the years with 14 wins from 19 clashes, the Sharks are favoured to secure a much-needed win.

My tip: Staring down the prospect of their worst losing run in five years, the Sharks should have the desperation and class to hold off a spirited effort from the Cowboys. Sharks by 7.

1. Josh Dugan 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Josh Morris 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Shaun Johnson 7. Chad Townsend 16. Matt Prior 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Paul Gallen 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 14. Blayke Brailey 15. Jack Williams 17. Billy Magoulias

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 14. Coen Hess 4. Tom Opacic 5. Murray Taulagi 6. John Asiata 7. Jake Clifford 8. Josh McGuire 9. Jake Granville 10. Jordan McLean 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Shane Wright 13. Jason Taumalolo 15. Matt Scott 16. Scott Bolton 17. Francis Molo 20. Corey Jensen

Referees: Matt Cecchin, Jon Stone; Sideline Officials: David Munro, Phil Henderson; Video Referees: Steve Chiddy, Ben Galea;