THE end of the road is within sight.

The Origin period is finally done and dusted and we’ve arrived at the business end of the season, with the top four to be hotly contested right up until round 26 and seventh and eighth on the ladder well and truly up for grabs.

With seven rounds left in the regular season every game matters.

This is The Run Home, where foxsports.com.au analyses every clubs’ remaining fixture to project how the rest of the year might play out.

Round 20

Which teams could take advantage of an easy draw and which clubs could be in trouble based on a tough last couple of months?

Here’s how we think it will play out.

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PROJECTED FINALS SERIES

First Qualifying Final: Storm (1) v Sharks (4)

First Elimination Final: Broncos (5) v Panthers (8)

Second Elimination Final: Cowboys (6) v Eels (7)

Second Qualifying Final: Sea Eagles (2) v Roosters (3)

PROJECTED END-OF-SEASON LADDER

1. Storm (42pts)

2. Sea Eagles (36pts)

3. Roosters (36pts)

4. Sharks (36pts)

5. Broncos (36pts)

6. Cowboys (34pts)

7. Eels (34pts)

8. Panthers (32pts)

9. Dragons (30pts)

10. Raiders (26pts)

11. Titans (22pts)

12. Rabbitohs (20pts)

13. Warriors (20pts)

14. Bulldogs (20pts)

15. Wests Tigers (14pts)

16. Knights (10pts)

The Storm are looking specials to secure the minor premiership. Source: Getty Images

THE TOP EIGHT

1. Melbourne Storm (30pts, 120+/-)

Formline: LWLWW

Remaining games: Raiders (away), Sea Eagles (home), Cowboys (away), Roosters (home), Knights (away), Rabbitohs (home), Raiders (home)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Seventh (three top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of +4)

Key injuries: Jordan McLean (cheekbone, round 20), Cheyse Blair (ankle, season)

Analysis: The Storm are clearly the team to beat and with just three opponents currently sitting in the top eight left to play, they could easily go into the finals undefeated from here on out. We’ve got them losing away to the Raiders this weekend before coming home with a wet sail.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: LWWWWWW (42pts)

2. Sydney Roosters (28pts, 53+/-)

Formline: WLWWW

Remaining games: Knights (home), Cowboys (home), Sea Eagles (away), Storm (away), Tigers (home), Sharks (away), Titans (home)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Ninth (four top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of -9)

Key injuries: Michael Gordon (pec, round 25), Jake Friend (hand, round 22), Sio Siua Taukeiaho (hamstring, round 20)

Analysis: With four tricky match ups to come in their run home, the Roosters will have to be at their best to secure a top two finish and a home qualifying final. We’ve got them losing away to Manly and the Sharks but if they can flip those results they’ll push the Storm for the minor premiership.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: WWLLWLW (36pts)

3. Manly Sea Eagles (26pts, 87+/-)

Formline: WLWWW

Remaining games: Dragons (away), Storm (away), Roosters (home), Tigers (away), Bulldogs (away), Warriors (away), Panthers (home)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Sixth (three top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of -3)

Key injuries: Apisai Koroisau (rib, round 20), Jorge Taufua (knee, season), Curtis Sironen (shoulder, round 26), Lewis Brown (knee, round 21)

Analysis: The surprise packets of the season are rolling towards a top four finish and their outstanding away record gives them every chance of finishing in the top two. Will potentially start as favourites for every game in their run home, other than their road trip to Melbourne in a fortnight. Their excellent for and against puts them in a strong position in the likely event that they finish on equal points with a fellow top four contender.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: WLWWWWL (36pts)

4. Brisbane Broncos (26pts, 68+/-)

Formline: WLWWL

Remaining games: Bulldogs (home), Eels (away), Titans (away), Sharks (home), Dragons (home), Eels (home), Cowboys (away)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Fifteenth (five top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of +5)

Key injuries: Darius Boyd (thumb, round 20), Corey Oates (staph infection, indefinite)

Analysis: With five top eight opponents in their last seven games, the Broncos have a difficult task ahead to finish in the top four. It’s quite possible they’ll need to win the Queensland derby away from home in round 26 to secure the double chance.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: WLWWWWL (36pts)

5. Cronulla Sharks (26pts, 65+/-)

Formline: LWLWL

Remaining games: Rabbitohs (home), Warriors (away), Raiders (home), Broncos (away), Cowboys (away), Roosters (home), Knights (away)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Fourth (three top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of -8)

Key injuries: Jayden Brailie (jaw, indefinite)

Analysis: One of the hardest hit sides by the Origin period, the Sharks will get a lift from the return of their topliners and should hit September in good form. A kind run home gives them a huge chance of jumping into the top four.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: WWWLLWW (36pts)

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6. North Queensland Cowboys (26pts, 56+/-)

Formline: WWWLW

Remaining games: Warriors (home), Roosters (away), Storm (home), Panthers (away), Sharks (home), Tigers (away), Broncos (home)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Equal twelfth (four top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of +17)

Key injuries: Johnathan Thurston (shoulder, season), Matt Scott (ACL, season), Patrick Kaufusi (foot, season), Antonio Winterstein (calf, round 21)

Analysis: With no Johnathan Thurston and four strong opponents plus a resurgent Panthers to contend with in the run home, the Cowboys are no guarantee to finish in the top eight. They’ll need to win their home games against the Sharks and Broncos to position themselves for a finals charge.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: WLLLWWW (34pts)

Johnathan Thurston’s season ending shoulder injury has hurt the Cowboys’ chances. Source: News Corp Australia

7. Parramatta Eels (24pts, -19+/-)

Formline: WWWLW

Remaining games: Tigers (away), Broncos (home), Bulldogs (away), Knights (home), Titans (home), Broncos (away), Rabbitohs (home)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): First (two top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of -51)

Key injuries: Isaac De Gois (concussion, indefinite), Kaysa Pritchard (knee, season), Beau Scott (bicep, season), Josh Hoffman (knee, round 21)

Analysis: Destiny is in the Eels’ hands and with the easiest run home of the 16 teams in the competition, it will take a bit of a choke job to miss the eight from here. Depending on what happens to the teams above them, even a top four finish isn’t completely out of the question, although their poor for and against is likely to count against them.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: WWLWWLW (34pts)

8. St George Illawarra Dragons (22pts, 52+/-)

Formline: LLWLL

Remaining games: Sea Eagles (home), Knights (away), Rabbitohs (home), Titans (home), Broncos (away), Panthers (away), Bulldogs (home)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Second (two top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of -21)

Key injuries: Josh Dugan (concussion, round 20), Drew Hutchison (knee, season), Russell Packer (hip, TBC), Euan Aitken (hamstring, round 20)

Analysis: The Dragons are teetering on the edge and, worryingly, their results are trending down. Sitting top of the table after seven rounds, they shouldn’t really be facing another season without finals, but as has been their way over the last few years, the start of the Origin period has signalled a downturn. Their round 25 match against the Panthers could well decide who scrapes into the eight and who misses out.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: LWWWLLW (30pts)

Don’t look now, the Dragons’ season is slipping away. Source: Getty Images

THE CHASING PACK

9. Penrith Panthers (20pts, 21+/-)

Formline: WWLLW

Remaining games: Titans (home), Bulldogs (home), Tigers (home), Cowboys (home), Raiders (away), Dragons (home), Sea Eagles (away)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Fifth (three top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of -7)

Key injuries: Trent Merrin (knee, round 26-finals), Bryce Cartwright (ankle, round 21-23), Peter Wallace (groin, round 20), Matt Moylan (hamstring, round 20), Isaah Yeo (ankle, indefinite), Dean Whare (jaw, round 22)

Analysis: The Panthers are hitting form at the right time of the season and look to be the best chance of the sides currently out of their eight to push their way in. And with the fifth easiest run home of the 16 sides, they’ve got the draw to do it. Home games against the Cowboys and Dragons and away fixtures against Manly and the Raiders are key and they’ll want to win three of those four to lock away a top eight finish.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: WWWWLWW (32pts)

10. Canberra Raiders (18pts, 27+/-)

Formline: WLLLL

Remaining games: Storm (home), Rabbitohs (away), Sharks (away), Warriors (away), Panthers (home), Knights (home), Storm (away)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Eighth (three top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of +9)

Key injuries: Josh Papalii (suspension, round 22)

Analysis: The Raiders have had a very patchy season and it’s left them with plenty to do to realise their potential and make the eight. Two games against the Storm as well as high stakes clashes with the Sharks and the Panthers makes things very difficult.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: WWLLWWL (26pts)

Ricky Stuart looks set to rue missed opportunities at season’s end. Source: AAP

11. Warriors (18pts, -38+/-)

Formline: LLWWL

Remaining games: Cowboys (away), Sharks (home), Knights (away), Raiders (home), Rabbitohs (away), Sea Eagles (home), Tigers (away)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Third (three top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of -22)

Key injuries: Shaun Johnson (knee, round 26-finals), Ryan Hoffman (foot, round 22-23), Albert Vete (broken arm, indefinite), Nathaniel Roache (hamstring, indefinite)

Analysis: Despite a relatively kind run home, losing Shaun Johnson to a knee injury looks to be the death knell on the Warriors’ finals hopes.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: LLLWLLL (20pts)

12. Gold Coast Titans (18pts, -42+/-)

Formline: WWWLL

Remaining games: Panthers (away), Tigers (home), Broncos (home), Dragons (away), Eels (away), Bulldogs (home), Roosters (away)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Tenth (four top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of -8)

Key injuries: Kane Elgey (sternum, round 20), Chris Grevsmuhl (shoulder, indefinite), Chris McQueen (neck, indefinite), Dan Sarginson (shoulder, indefinite)

Analysis: With an easier draw the Titans would be in with a sniff on the back of three wins on the trot. However, five of their seven games shape as extremely difficult and that should seal their fate.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: LWLLLWL (22pts)

13. Canterbury Bulldogs (18pts, -59+/-)

Formline: WLLWL

Remaining games: Broncos (away), Panthers (away), Eels (home), Rabbitohs (away), Sea Eagles (home), Titans (away), Dragons (away)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Thirteenth (four top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of +18)

Key injuries: Greg Eastwood (knee, Round 21-22), James Graham (neck, round 21-23)

Analysis: The Bulldogs haven’t looked a finals-bound side at any stage this season and with a difficult draw to complete their season, they look unlikely to mount a revival.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: LLWLLLL (20pts)

OUT OF CONTENTION

14. South Sydney Rabbitohs (16pts, -42+/-)

Formline: LLWWL

Remaining games: Sharks (away), Raiders (home), Dragons (away), Bulldogs (home), Warriors (home), Storm (away), Eels (away)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Fourteenth (four top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of +21)

Key injuries: Greg Inglis (ACL, season), Aaron Gray (Achilles, indefinite), Hymel Hunt (thumb, indefinite), Siosifa Talakai (knee, indefinite)

Analysis: Like the Bulldogs, the Rabbitohs have looked an ordinary side for a long time now. Four of their seven remaining games are against top eight teams, so they’ll need to improve just to pick up a couple of extra wins from here to the end.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: LLLWWLL (20pts)

The Rabbitohs have suffered without their injured skipper Greg Inglis. Source: Getty Images

15. Wests Tigers (12pts, -169+/-)

Formline: LWLLL

Remaining games: Eels (home), Titans (away), Panthers (away), Sea Eagles (home), Roosters (away), Cowboys (home), Warriors (home)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Equal twelfth (four top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of +17)

Key injuries: Jamal Idris (knee, season), Jacob Liddle (shoulder, TBC), Tim Grant (hamstring, round 20)

Analysis: With James Tedesco and Aaron Woods back from Origin duties, the Tigers are capable of upsets and may yet play a spoilers role leading into the finals. However, they’ll be outsiders in six of their last seven games.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: LLLLLLW (14pts)

16. Newcastle Knights (8pts, -180+/-)

Formline: LLLLL

Remaining games: Roosters (away), Dragons (home), Warriors (home), Eels (away), Storm (home), Raiders (away), Sharks (home)

Remaining draw difficulty (easiest to hardest): Sixteenth (five top eight teams, opponents’ average +/- of +37)

Key injuries: Rory Kostjasyn (throat, indefinite), Dylan Pythian (knee, indefinite), Luke Yates (shoulder, TBC), Anthony Tupou (hip, indefinite), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (hamstring, round 20), Pauli Pauli (leg fracture, round 24-26)

Analysis: The Knights have had plenty of chances to add to their tally of wins but they continually fall short coming down the stretch. Home games against the Dragons and Warriors shape as their final chances to avoid the wooden spoon, although the cutlery now looks all but a fait accompli.

Foxsports.com.au’s projection: LLWLLLL (10pts)