For everything we've read about the struggles endured by the Dragons in 2019, they're just two points adrift of eighth spot. With Origin now in the rear-vision mirror the Dragons will be hoping Ben Hunt, Corey Norman, Tyson Frizell and Paul Vaughan return from Origin III in good health and ready to kick-start at run at the finals. In recent years the last 10 rounds haven't been kind to Paul McGregor's side. They need to turn that around if they're to keep playing beyond round 25. As for the Raiders, they need to rediscover to the form they displayed over the opening six weeks. In the next three weeks, they face teams sitting outside the top eight after round 16 (Dragons, Wests Tigers, Panthers). If they're able to get six points from that stretch a top-four finish is there for the taking.

Match: Dragons v Raiders Round 17 - F ull T ime Home Team Dragons Scored 14 points Away Team Raiders Scored 36 points Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong

The Rundown Team news Dragons: In a raft of changes announced an hour before kick-off, Ben Hunt (No.21) will start at halfback, Paul Vaughan (No.22) at prop and Tyson Frizell (No.23) in the second row. Blake Lawrie moves from prop back to lock while Jacob Host and Luciano Leilua move from the starting side to the bench. Tariq Sims returns from suspension and his brother Korbin moves to the bench. James Graham and Jason Saab were omitted from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off. Raiders: In changes announced 60 minutes before game time, Maroons prop Josh Papalii will start off the bench with Sia Soliola moving into the run-one side. Ryan Sutton was named on Tuesday but withdrew on Saturday with a calf strain and his place on the bench is taken by Emre Guler. Sam Williams and Michael Oldfield were the two men dropped from the squad an hour before game time. Sutton and Royce Hunt were left out on Saturday.

Match: Dragons v Raiders Round 17 - F ull T ime Home Team Dragons Scored 14 points Away Team Raiders Scored 36 points Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong Team Lists Backs Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Matthew Dufty 1 Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Jonus Pearson 2 Winger for Raiders is number 2 Bailey Simonsson

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Euan Aitken 3 Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker

Centre for Dragons is number 4 Timoteo Lafai 4 Centre for Raiders is number 4 Nick Cotric

Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mikaele Ravalawa 5 Winger for Raiders is number 5 Jordan Rapana

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Corey Norman 6 Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton

Halfback for Dragons is number 21 Ben Hunt 21 7 Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Aidan Sezer Forwards Prop for Dragons is number 8 Jeremy Latimore 8 10 Prop for Raiders is number 10 Dunamis Lui

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Cameron McInnes 9 Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Josh Hodgson

Prop for Dragons is number 22 Paul Vaughan 22 16 Prop for Raiders is number 16 Iosia Soliola

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Tariq Sims 12 11 2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 John Bateman

2nd Row for Dragons is number 23 Tyson Frizell 23 12 2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead

Lock for Dragons is number 10 Blake Lawrie 10 13 Lock for Raiders is number 13 Joseph Tapine Interchange Interchange for Dragons is number 11 Jacob Host 11 8 Interchange for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii

Interchange for Dragons is number 13 Luciano Leilua 13 14 Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Siliva Havili

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Korbin Sims 14 15 Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Corey Horsburgh

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Reece Robson 15 21 Interchange for Raiders is number 21 Emre Guler