We get another opportunity this weekend to get in to the minds of NRL coaches as they get closer to establishing their top 17....

The Dragons now have a team who have a few more attacking weapons than just Josh Dugan. This will be our first glimpse at Gareth Widdop and Sam Williams working in tandem and their combination with Dugan will be vital - great opportunity for these three to build chemistry under pressure.
Watch out for how the Dragons use Kyle Stanley coming off the bench. He's capable of playing in the halves and out a bit wider so it will be interesting to see how Steve Price uses him especially as he comes off yet another knee injury.
The Rabbitohs have named Dylan Walker at six in place of the injured Luke Keary. Walker was a half through is junior footy and is extremely talented.

We get another opportunity to have a look at Jack Ahearn and Mitch Cornish who will be vital to the Raiders this season. The Raiders look like a totally different team with Anthony Milford there as well as Edrick Lee.
What to make of this Raiders pack? They get talked up a great deal but never really deliver and this will be a good test for them as the Knights boast a typically tough pack full of gritty, experienced campaigners ... and Robbie Rochow.
The Knights are now blessed with some fantastic depth with Pat Mata'utia, Josh Mantellato and Jake Mamo waiting in the wings for an opportunity. They have a chance to show their worth to Wayne Bennett this week.

I would really like to see some more power in the Titans back line but will have to settle with seeing Kalifa Fai Fai Loa and Siuatonga Likiliki on the bench. Both Maurice Blair and Brad Tighe will have to put in good performances to earn the right to start come round one especially against two of the best in Kane Linnett and Brent Tate for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys still need to finalize a halves combo and a fullback. With Mathew Wright named, expect him to be given an opportunity to impress and he's my smokey to start at fullback for round one. Michael Morgan will be aiming to put some pressure on Robert Lui to partner Jonathan Thurston.
Cameron King also gets a chance to seal a bench spot behind Ray Thompson at dummy half.

Can't really see Wigan putting up much of a contest here as the Roosters have named a near full strength line up. Kane Evans impressed during the World Cup as well as the Nines and is a young, aggressive forward who will form a dangerous group of forwards coming off the bench
Part of that group is Frenchman Remi Casty who will provide the grit and toil along with the impact of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sam Moa.

Will Hopoate gets to suit up in the blue and yellow for the first time and with the Eels also having Ryan Morgan as well as Willie Tonga, the Eels now have some depth and centre.
There aren't many teams in the NRL that can boast such a combination of skill and aggression in the forwards as the Eels. Darcy Lussick joins the young forwards who impressed at the Nines.
Big props Josh Starling, Dunamis Lui, Ligi Sao and Jake Trbojevic will form a solid Manly forward pack that many thought would struggle following the loss of a few veterans.
Both Masada Iosefa and Jayden Hodges will compete for the back up dummy half spot as Matt Ballin.

We get a good glimpse in to the thinking of Mick Potter as he gives Braith Anasta the chance to partner young Luke Brooks. A good move as along with Robbie Farah there will be plenty of experience and support around Brooks.
Does Keith Lulia still have what it takes to compete at NRL level? We'll have to wait and see, but if he does well then the Tigers will have a very solid centre pairing with Chris Lawrence looking to finally have a breakout season.
The Tigers pack is one to watch - skill, size, experience and youth.
Not much to report on for the Sharks except the exclusion of Todd Carney thanks to injury. Pretty boring really.

The Storm have split their squad for two trials this weekend and this one is the young bunch. There are still some names to watch with Matt Duffie, Dayne Weston, George Rose, Junior Moors and Kenny Bromwich all suiting up.
Both Dayne Weston and George Rose are both players who Craig Bellamy will love to work with. These are the type of forwards who have flourished under Bellamy and are two wise buys.

A good opportunity for Warriors fans to see the glue that will hold the Warriors defence together with Simon Mannering and Nathan Friend both getting a run. With plenty of attacking ability, these two never get the credit they deserve but will be vital to any success.
I'm eager to see how both John Palavi and Tui Lolohea fit in to this group. Palavi has had big wraps on him for a while now and is the hard working back rower that the Warriors need while I also think Lolohea could slot in to dummy half as there is no other back up to Friend named.
The Broncos are quietly forming a very good forward pack and with Corey Parker lining up at prop this week, they'll have plenty of mobility and skill.
Kodi Nikorima really impressed at the Nines and gets a chance to partner Ben Hunt in the halves. Should he do well, things could get interesting with Ben Barba in the mix as well.

Dean Whare and Jamal Idris have been named as the centre pairing for the Panthers and these two could provide the Panthers with attacking options on both sides of the ruck. The Panthers have always needed to get some more attacking options so hopefully for Penrith fans, this could be the go.
Brent Kite, Nigel Plum, Sam McKendry and Tim Grant could make the Panthers very difficult to get on top of through the middle. Nothing flashy about this group, but they'll do their jobs very well.
Where does Kevin Naiqama fit in? David Simmons has done a fine job on the wing and is someone who will be very difficult to drop. With Josh Mansour an excitement machine, surely Ivan Cleary has to find space for Kevin Naiqama ... maybe on the bench, hmm interesting.

Plenty of talent in the Bulldogs line up with plenty of competition for starting spots. In the centres, Moses Mbye comes in to contention and should be head and shoulders above Chase Stanley. Mbye will also be competing for a dummy half spot behind Michael Ennis.
With Ben Hampton partnering Ben Roberts in the halves for the Storm, you get the feeling it could be a shoot out between Hampton and Cody Walker who will play against Easts Tigers for the starting six jersey.
Hymel Hunt, Felise Kaufusi, Cameron Munster and Young Tonumaipea are all young players for the Storm who are worthy of your time.