* Where: Accor Stadium, Sydney
* The form:
Canterbury (home-and-away season: sixth, 14 wins, 10 losses): Winners in seven of their past 10 matches.
Manly (home-and-away season: seventh, 13 wins, 10 losses, 1 draw): Winners in six of their past 10 matches.
*Head-to-head
Overall: Played: 138 games. Bulldogs 59 wins, 74 losses, five draws
In finals: Played: Five games. Bulldogs 4 wins, one loss
Last time: Round 26, 2024. Manly 34 defeated Canterbury 22 at Accor Stadium.
Last final: Semi-final 2014. Canterbury 18 defeated Manly 17 at Allianz Stadium.
*Key players:
Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles): Returns from a short-term shoulder injury at just the right time. Few individual players in the NRL are as important to their team than the Manly fullback. His roving play will be crucial as the Sea Eagles look to disrupt the Bulldogs' trademark defence. Expect the bigger Bulldogs to give his shoulder plenty of attention, despite Many insisting this week he would be in tip-top shape. The last time he played finals he was in Dally M-winning form, and will look to rouse a Manly side thrashed by Cronulla in his absence last week.
Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs): It's hard to think of a more influential signing in modern Bulldogs history, and traditionally this is the time of the year when he thrives. Canterbury's best attacking moments this year have come wide and Crichton's athleticism makes him a danger man on the edges. His on-field leadership has lifted standards on both sides of the ball this season, with that composure especially crucial after a week of headlines centring on Josh Addo-Carr's drug test. He was heroic for Penrith in the last three grand-final victories, the challenge now is to step up on the big stage in blue and white.
Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles): Like a fine wine. The fourth-oldest player to take the field this season, Cherry-Evans shows no signs of slowing down, his kicking game and game management skills as sharp as ever. Cherry-Evans is also the only premiership winner in the Sea Eagles' 17, and will be the calm head Manly needs after a topsy-turvy last month. Watch for Viliame Kikau to put plenty of pressure on the Sea Eagles halfback.
Max King (Bulldogs): Canterbury's middle forwards have been bullied by their opposition in two decisive losses leading into the finals series. The mobility of their lightweight pack has been an asset for much of the season, but King will need to muscle up to stop the Sea Eagles big men from dictating terms like they did a fortnight ago.
*The stat: Manly have won only one of their last six week-one finals matches stretching back to 2012. Their 17 per cent winning percentage in these fixtures is the lowest of any side in this period, other than Gold Coast and the Warriors, who have both only played two week-one finals matches since 2012.
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