Eels wingers stand tall over Bulldogs

Stopping Sonny Bill Williams might be a difficult task, but the tallest order in Saturday's semi-final with the Eels will be how do the Bulldogs combat Parramatta's towering wingers?

In a mismatch tailor-made for the Eels, Parramatta's wingers Krisnan Inu and Eric Grothe come up against arguably the shortest wing pairing in the NRL of Hazem El Masri and Matt Utai.

New Zealand sensation Inu, at 185cm, has a slight height advantage over NSW opposite El Masri who is listed at 178cm tall.

Meanwhile, Grothe is one of the tallest wingers in the NRL at 189cm and he will come up against one of the shortest in 168cm Utai.

While the Bulldogs have made no secret of their plan to attack Eels kickers Tim Smith and Brett Finch, the Parramatta pair have set their sights on exploiting the Dogs lack of height out wide - even if they don't admit it.

"I just think the ability of our wingers to contest high balls is an advantage full stop," Finch said.

"It doesn't matter who we play against we certainly know it's a strength of ours the way the guys contest the high balls and whatever team we play we send kicks that way.

"I'm sure if the opportunity arises for Timmy or myself to put one across to our wingers we will.

"I don't think we'll be targeting anyone, it's just something we do a fair bit anyway.

"Hopefully (the height advantage) helps and hopefully we can get a result out of a few cross field kicks.

"(But) Hazem El Masri and Matt Utai they haven't survived as long as they have if they've got a weakness there.

"We certainly don't see it as us targeting them it's just that our two wingers are good in the air and we go to them anyway."

Eels coach Michael Hagan admits the size superiority could be used to his side's advantage, but it would only help Parramatta if they execute properly.

Last week against the Warriors both their tries in the 12-10 victory came from kicks, however neither Inu or Grothe were involved.

In fact, it was Inu who was peppered at the other end as the Warriors targeted the 20-year-old rookie to perhaps find a chink in his armour by scoring the New Zealand team's first try of the game.

"It's some advantage there as long as your execution of things is right," Hagan said.

"The quality of their (Bulldogs) wingers is different by virtue of what they provide and they're both quality players.

"I don't think we've got a huge advantage there. It helps but you need to be confident by playing well."