The Canberra Raiders will travel to Wollongong this weekend for the first time since the Dragons ended a 10-year home game hoodoo against the green machine.
From 2003 to 2013, the Raiders dominated the Dragons winning 15 of 16 meetings. However, since a drought-breaking win in 2014, the Dragons have balanced the scales with five wins in their past six games against the men from the nation's capital.
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There isn't much separating these two teams with the ball in hand. Although the Dragons have more line breaks (62 to Canberra's 58), tackle breaks (389 to Canberra's 364) and offloads (124 to Canberra's 103).
The Raiders trump the Red V however in terms of producing the most dummy half runs of any team (250) and most kicks (333) including three 40/20s.
Defence has been the Raiders' bread and butter in 2019, and it's here where Ricky Stuart's men have an advantage over the Dragons.
The Raiders have the second-best defence competition-wide (conceded 222 points). On the flip side, the Dragons have conceded 329 points (third-worst competition wide).
Completion rate remains as crucial as ever given each team have the equal-fourth highest sets completed competition-wide (78 per cent).
Danger man
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Coming into the 2019 season as a relative unknown, Nicoll-Klokstad has announced himself as a game-breaker
Nicoll-Klokstad had previously played seven games for the New Zealand Warriors, where he scored seven tries. Now with regular starting position at his disposal, Nicoll-Klokstad has produced six tries, 65 tackle breaks and averages 175 running metres.
He also leads the competition in kick return metres (1,015) and has the third-most running metres of any player (2,634).
Key matchups
Jacob Host v John Bateman
Since making the trip to Canberra from the English Super League, John Bateman has become one of the most active back-rowers in the competition. On the contrary, Dragon Jacob Host will be determined to compete at the same level.
Bateman has made a big impact in his 12 appearances this season, notching up three tries and three line break assists while busting 48 tackles.
Host is also enjoying a career year in the NRL, with one try and 1279 total running metres.
The contest between these two hard-working forwards could be enough to influence the outcome of the match.
Cameron McInnes v Josh Hodgson
As co-captains of their respective clubs, McInnes and Hodgson will leave it all out on the field on Sunday.
McInnes is an ever-reliable workhorse who continues to flourish under the captaincy responsibility. In 2019, McInnes already has equalled his try-scoring tally of last season (three) and proven himself as one of the best defenders in the competition (82 missed tackles of 3,091 attempts in the past three years).
Hodgson's capabilities are nothing to shirk though either, given the England international has forced eight dropouts and produced three try assists in what has been an injury-riddled campaign.
