Top-two ambition for Eels

PARRAMATTA enforcer Nathan Hindmarsh was straight to the point when asked yesterday about the Eels' hopes for 2008:

"We want to finish in the top two."

"The top four would be the aim but ideally we want top two," said Hindmarsh, who will join his teammates for the Round 1 clash with the Bulldogs at Sydney's ANZ Stadium tonight.

"It's going to be a close contest this year, but I think we've got the players to finish up there.

"We've pretty much got the same side as last year. We sat down and watched the replay of our semi-final loss to Melbourne last season and it was a game we thought we let go.

''We're only going to take extra confidence from that."

Hindmarsh said he enjoyed one of his better pre-seasons and now tipped the scales at 102kg, "four of five kilos" down on last year.

The Australian backrower said it was important the Eels exploded out of the blocks, but he would not dismiss the Dogs.

"I think a lot of people have written them off too early," Hindmarsh said.

"I know they've lost Willie (Mason) and Mark (O'Meley), and those two guys will be sorely missed, but they've still got a lot of people there that can fill the spots.

''And they've always been a club that lifts when things aren't going their way."