JOSEPH MANU V AKUILA UATE
The old bull meets the young buck on Sunday afternoon as Joseph Manu prepares for a teeth-grinding match-up against veteran winger Akuila Uate.
Manu has been solid so far this season and will need to be at his defensive best when he goes againstone of the games great wingers who is no stranger to a four-pointer.
After spending the majority of his career at the Newcastle Knights, Uate joined the Sea Eagles last season and completely revamped his career.
Manu is also known to dazzle on his day, making this match-up one that has the potential to make the mouth water.
KEY STAT | 2018 TRIES | Manu: 1 | Uate: 0
LUKE KEARY V DYLAN WALKER
While it's a case of match-ups galore in Round 9, none will be more key than the battle between the runners when Luke Keary goes head-to-head with interim five-eighth Dylan Walker.
Covering for injury on Sunday, Walker is no stranger to the five-eighth roll and will look to use it to utilise his speed and strength in the middle of the field.
While Keary possesses the same skill with his running game, he probably has a one-up on Walker with his play-making ability.
Either way he'll need to be on his toes if he's going to keep a muzzle on his opposing half.
KEY STAT | 2018 TRY ASSISTS | Keary: 7 | Walker: 0
COOPER CRONK V DALY CHERRY-EVANS
A battle between elite play-makers, Cooper Cronk has a challenge on his hands when he goes up against fellow halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.
While Cronk continues to gel with his teammates, Cherry-Evans will be looking for a big performance to help get his side over the line.
These two are no strangers to each other either, having played together at representative level and facing-off against each other in a number of epic battles over the years.
It should be no different for the pair on Sunday afternoon.
KEY STAT | 2018 TRY ASSISTS | Cronk: 6 | Cherry-Evans: 1
Last Time We Met The Sea Eagles
ISAAC LIU V JAKE TRBOJEVIC
There's not many safer locks in the competition than Isaac Liu, and it's been business as usual so far in 2018.
Jake Trbojevic on the other hand has a flashy side to his game that has been on show so far this season and he'll look to put his best foot forward for his team on the back of a couple of losses.
Liu will have his hands full when he goes up against the representative forward, but we all know that he steps up for the big challenges.
While Trbojevic is likely to see more minutes, Liu will look to make his mark and keep Trbojevic quiet in his time on the field.
