NRL Parramatta Eels to fire up

It's been a rough week for the Parramatta Eels with Nathan Cayless announcing it will be his last season.

We thought the death of their young fan would inspire them a couple of weeks ago, but if harsh criticism from all angles, including within the club, doesn't get some energy out of under-performing players, nothing will.

Timana Tahu has ambitions of playing Origin, but that shouldn't happen under current form. Hayne wasn't his usual self last week, and Hindmarsh's tackle count is usually a little higher.

In a way, they're lucky they are playing Canberra, a team which is also coughing up too much ball and whose players are under the microscope for a sloppy workrate.

"I certainly don't want it to happen that I get picked just because of what I've done or because I've been captain for so long," Cayless was quoted as saying.

"It's a team game and you've got to make sure that everyone's playing as well as we can."

"Your form dictates where you play. I've spoken to the coach and he said 'if you play well enough you'll be in first grade'."

In short, Parra should be nice and fired up - and should win.