EELS SET TO TARGET SLATER AS WEAKNESS, INGLIS CLEARED TO PLAY

Parramatta is set to target Melbourne fullback Billy Slater heavily as they look to ways to become the first side from 8th position to win a semi-final since the controversial McIntyre Finals system was put into place in 1999.

Whilst Slater is a fine attacking player with speed to burn and an ability to turn a match in the blinking of an eye there are noticable chunks in his game. Slater has been suspended three times this season, he is perceived weak under the high ball and can be turned off his game easily.

Slater is a classic example of being a confidence player and the Eels will be trying to target any possible weakness in a Storm player as they have to overcome the odds and create some history.Former Eels legend Brett Kenny echoed the same thoughts and said,

"He can do some brilliant things but he's also vulnerable at times. I think a lot of it with him is confidence. If you let him get off to a good start and don't put pressure on him, I don't know whether you're going to see too many mistakes from him all game."

If you can put a bit of pressure on him early and force a few errors, all of a sudden he's not the same player."

Parramatta face an uphill task to upset the Storm who won the Minor Premiership by eight points. The Eels did remarkably well to qualify for the Finals but their form in the last two weeks suggests they have just about run out of petrol.The Eels have nothing to lose and everything to gain and will be looking to target any weak points that Melbourne have and will be attempting to exercise them to the hilt.

Meanwhile, Melbourne has received some good news on top of Cameron Smith winning the Dally M Player of the Year award with boom centre Greg Inglis being cleared to play.Inglis was sent for MRI scans after Achilles tendon pain forced him out of two training sessions and there were reports that Inglis would be forced out of the semi-final clash against Parramatta.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy said, "I would be hugely surprised if he doesn't play on Sunday. He had a bit of trouble with it last Saturday night and that's why I brought him off."He struggled to run on Monday and Tuesday so we thought we'd play it safe and get the scans to make sure there's nothing underlying there but he should be right to train."

Inglis missed two months earlier this year with back stress fractures, and Storm physiotherapist Mary Toomey again put the problem down to "growing pains" as he's added three centimetres in height and five kilograms of weight over the past year.Toomey said,

"We can reasonably attribute it to growing when there's physical stress on the body. It's now a matter of treatment and optimising his recovery after each match."

TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP WEEK #1 FINALS

Knights v Sea Eagles
Broncos v Dragons
Bulldogs v Raiders
Storm v Eels