Dogs, Eels back to the future

TWO decades after the Bulldogs and Parramatta forged one of rugby league's great rivalries, a crowd of 50,000-plus is expected to pack Telstra Stadium this Saturday night to see it rekindled.

And just like it was back in the 1980s, it will be a battle of the Bulldogs' brutal forward pack taking on the magic of the Eels' electric backline.

With the return of Sonny Bill Williams to the Bulldogs side after suspension, the semi-final is shaping as a clash of "muscle versus magic" with the Belmore club yesterday talking up the return of their powerful forward pack to full strength.

With the exciting Eels backline proving a handful in recent weeks, the clash looms as a tantalising throwback to the 1980s where Canterbury and Parramatta fought out several epic premierships battles.

"It's been a while," Bulldogs forward Reni Maitua said last night. "But we are back together now.

"I'm excited to have Sonny Bill back. He's my right-hand man. It is all on the line for us.

"There will be no more excuses, otherwise we'll be looking to next year."

The Bulldogs arrived back in Sydney yesterday afternoon after a gripping 20-18 loss to North Queensland in Townsville over the weekend.

Williams will be back alongside Mark O'Meley, who returned from injury against the Cowboys, and Willie Mason, Maitua, Corey Hughes and Andrew Ryan - who all came through the game unscathed.

"It's a great bonus having our top squad available for such a big game," Ryan said.

"It is as good a time as any to start performing.

"If we don't, it's all over."

Parramatta coach Michael Hagan is well aware that the Bulldogs will field their most potent forward pack for the sudden-death game.

"They have lost their past two games but they haven't had all their players together," Hagan told The Daily Telegraph.

"Mark O'Meley is now back and Sonny Bill returns.

"If they are all together and they all fire, then it will be a tough night for us.

"They have quality in the forwards. I'm not sure we fear them but we certainly respect them."

A huge crowd is expected at Homebush for the game between two of Sydney's oldest and fiercest rivals.

The other option of playing the game at the neutral Sydney Football Stadium was discounted, despite Telstra Stadium being the Bulldogs' home ground and the Eels earning a "home region" advantage.

"I think the game will be great for that part of Sydney," Ryan said.

"It should be a massive crowd and played between two teams who have had a lot of success.

"They have a lot of good young players so that makes it important we have a good kick-chase game."

Maitua claimed he already had nerves.

"It will be a huge clash - I've got butterflies just thinking about it," he said.

"We have played Parramatta twice this year and it's one each.

"Parramatta like to play a wide-running game. They probably went a bit too wide too early against the Warriors but in the second half they ground away."

Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten said his side was tired of being talked up in the media.

"We're over that. We've done all our talking," Patten said.

"We have to get to training and do all the hard work and let our football do the talking.

"They are always willing affairs against Parramatta.

"We were beaten by the Cowboys but we still took a lot out of the game."

The two teams played grand finals in 1984 and 1986, winning one each.