Doesn't sound good.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24164951-5012431,00.html)
WESTS TIGERS are in disarray before their must-win round 23 game against bogy team Parramatta, with up to 11 players unable to train today because of injury and prop Todd Payten facing a three-match suspension.
The Tigers have not beaten the Eels in their past seven encounters. Their losing streak stretches back to 2004. More concerning is that they have been out-muscled in their past two games against Parramatta: a 44-6 drubbing in June and a 38-8 loss last year.
While the Eels have been poor this season, they turned in a committed effort to down one of the premiership contenders, Sydney Roosters, at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday.
It is understood Tigers coach Tim Sheens is contemplating a team reshuffle to try to combat the Eels' size and power. In that scenario, forward Ben Te'o would move to the centres, with Dene Halatau shifting to the back row.
"There's been some close contests and there's been some ones where we haven't been in it," Sheens said. "Maybe it's just some sides, for one reason or another, you have a mind-set you can do all right or not do all right.
"Those sort of things are there to be broken from my point of view, whether it be a hoodoo ground or a hoodoo side or a referee you haven't been able to win under.
"It's like saying 'I've got to put my left sock on before my right sock and I can't win if I don't' - that's just warn me.
"You can't let your mind control you."
Sheens took a 19-man squad to Wollongong on Friday night for a tough win over St George Illawarra. Several injured players were in doubt before kick-off.
That situation is unlikely to improve for the club's training session at Concord Oval today.
The casualty list includes Robbie Farah (ankle), Chris Lawrence (shoulder), Halatau (shoulder), Keith Galloway (toe), Brett Hodgson (calf), Dean Collis (knee), Danny Galea (ankle), Mathew Head (thumb, shoulder), Taniela Tuiaki (hamstring), Bryce Gibbs (hamstring) and Payten (hamstring).
Payten's injury may be redundant, after he was charged with a grade-two dangerous throw on Dragons centre Matt Cooper.
Payten faces a four-game suspension if he fights the charge and loses. He is expected to take the early plea today and miss only three matches.
"We're not in the best of shape tomorrow, but in saying that we've got the long week," Sheens said.
"We'll be training but it won't be a team session as such. We'll have some people we'll be resting until Thursday but I'm anticipating that the team I've got in mind will be able to play.
"We're in a position to stake a claim for the play-offs with a win, and it's a game we have to win and a game they have to win."
The Tigers aren't the only club facing a test this round. The Roosters will look to shake off their end-of-season lethargy against Melbourne at Olympic park on Friday night.
The Roosters' credentials have been questioned with losses in the past five weeks to an injury-depleted Gold Coast, Canberra and the Eels.
However, captain Craig Fitzgibbon said the club's form had been inconsistent all season. He wasn't prepared to stake their premiership hopes on Friday night's result against the Storm.
"I think we're more than capable on our day and the finals are a totally different competition to the season proper," he said.
"Ideally you'd like to be improving and there's no bigger test than Melbourne in Melbourne. Hopefully we can use it as the kick up the butt that we needed."
The Dragons could be without Lagi Setu against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night after he was charged with a grade four careless high tackle. Setu is looking at a two-match ban if he fights the charge or one game if he takes the early plea.
Other players charged from the weekend include Bulldogs' Daniel Holdsworth (contrary conduct) and Melbourne's Anthony Quinn (dangerous throw). Both players can escape one-match bans with early pleas
