Parramatta coach Brad Arthur is set to rest star players in the final round of the home and away season despite having a top four spot up for grabs.
The Eels, who currently sit fifth behind fourth-placed Manly on points differential, are set to take no risks in the final round with several stars to have a rest before the finals.
Coming up against a Penrith side that sits second on the table, Arthur confirmed the plan is to sit “seven or eight” players out, including fullback Clint Gutherson, in the competition’s final round.
“I had a plan in place, and plans don’t always go the way you like them to,” Arthur said on SEN 1170 Mornings.
“Fortunately for us, we got through the game with the desired result and got a boost from the game against the Cowboys.
“The plan is to rest probably seven or eight of them, and Gutho (Clint Gutherson) is one of them.
“A lot of our boys have played every game and in the last couple of years, we’ve had a bit of momentum going into finals and it hasn’t really made a difference.”
While he’s hoping to give his stars some rest, Arthur is also ensuring that depth players are ready to go if called upon come finals time.
“I feel like we’ve got a bit of momentum that we need, and now it’s giving the rest of our playing group a bit of footy under their belts in case we need them in the finals,” he added.
“Last year in our second final we had three blokes that hadn’t played in a couple of months had to come in once we had injuries.
“We’re going to make sure everyone in our squad gets a game out … that equals more competition for spots, and we’ve got a healthy roster of blokes who are ready when called upon.
“Gutho won’t be playing this week, and it’s not because of his injury – that’s made it more secure that he won’t play – but he definitely won’t play this week.”
The Eels can’t finish lower than sixth on the ladder, but a win could see them jump into fourth if Manly lose to North Queensland.
Their final game of the home and away season against Penrith kicks off at 8:05pm on Friday night on the Gold Coast.