Like a lot of people, I didn't think the Canberra Raiders could get the job done for a second time in a matter of weeks against the Storm in Melbourne and I was even less confident about Manly's chances of knocking over the Sharks with such a depleted squad even though they were at home.

The Raiders' result leaves them in the box seat to make the big one given they will now host the winner of the Souths-Manly clash down in Canberra where they are so hard to beat.

The Sydney Roosters, who were just so impressive in taking care of the Rabbitohs, now await the winner of the Storm-Parramatta Eels game.

So who is going to advance this week?

Tomorrow night, it will be either the Rabbitohs or Manly and I'm tipping Wayne Bennett's side to get through. While they were rarely in the contest against a red-hot Roosters last weekend, the return of Sam Burgess and to a lesser extent Dane Gagai will make a massive difference this week.

Souths rely on their power game for points. Adam Reynolds possesses an outstanding kicking game but he and Cody Walker are a lot easier to control and contain if their forwards aren't punching through the advantage line and giving them the space to operate. They were rarely on the front foot again the Roosters until the game was well and truly lost. Burgess' return will give Souths a big boost in that regard. He seemed a bit angry on the world during the week when he fronted the media which suggests to me he will be at his inspirational best if he harnesses all that built-up frustration in the right way and takes it out on the Eagles.

How good of a season is Manly having? Des Hasler must be a great coach because I've got to say, if you look at his available roster right now, they are over-achieving. Admittedly the Sharks weren't great but the Eagles were right up for it at home. I'm just not convinced they are going to be able to repeat their effort at ANZ Stadium against the Bunnies. The Burgess-Addin Fonua-Blake battle will be a beauty and if anyone can get Manly home, it will be Daly Cherry-Evans.

Cherry has been inspirational for his side and if his no-frills forward pack can hold their own, I've got no doubt he has the skills and weapons in attack to cause Souths plenty of problems.

I just can't see Souths affording him the sort of latitude he was given against the disappointing Sharks.

Rabbitohs to win.

I'm not so sure what is going to happen in Saturday night's big one at AAMI Park.

Even allowing for the loss to the Raiders, the Storm are deserved favourites against the Eels. They will be smarting big time after not playing to their potential against Canberra and leaving themselves on the Roosters side of the draw should they win this one and advance. Generally when they have lost in the past, which has not been all that often, they have taken it out on the team they've met the following week. I can see Cameron Smith finding another gear, demanding greater commitment from his players and really upping the ante right across the park in a bid to choke the life out of the Eels.

But here is the thing and it's why I believe the outcome of this game is so hard to predict.

With Mitch Moses in great form, I'm certain the Eels will take the expansive game plan they used against Brisbane into this one. If they get it right and don't make too many mistakes, it's the type of game that will trouble Melbourne. I remember the Eels almost beating Storm in Melbourne during the 2017 finals and coach Brad Arthur is entitled to be confident in this one provided his players go down there genuinely believing they are good enough.

Storm to win [just].

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