With Meninga expected to choose just seven outside backs for the tournament in his 24-man squad, the competition for spots is fierce and last impressions will be important so the odds are against players whose teams aren’t involved in the finals.
Melbourne fullback Billy Slater and centre Will Chambers will have every chance to push their claims as the Storm should go deep into the play-offs and can wrap up the minor premiership if they beat Sydney Roosters this weekend.
Brisbane’s Darius Boyd is a certainty provided he is fit, while Newcastle’s Dane Gagai all but secured a place in the squad after winning the man-of-the-series in State of Origin.
However, the remaining three positions are up for grabs, with Meninga confirming that Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell are vying with Dugan and fellow Test and Origin stars Blake Ferguson, Valentine Holmes, James Tedesco, Josh Mansour and Jarryd Hayne.
Trbojevic’s Manly look set to feature prominently in the play-offs after beating the second-placed Roosters last weekend and are on track for a top four finish as Penrith are the only final eight contenders they face in the remaining four rounds.
Mitchell and Ferguson should also have at least two finals matches to impress as the Roosters are currently second and while a loss to the Storm will see them leapfrogged by the winner of the Broncos-Sharks clash, their other opponents are Wests Tigers, Cronulla and Gold Coast.
However, Dugan may have limited opportunities to push his claims after the Dragons dropped out of the top out last weekend following back-to-back losses to lowly Newcastle and South Sydney.
In addition, Dugan suffered an ankle injury, which while not syndesmosis as initially feared, has him in doubt for this weekend’s must win match against the Titans after MRI scans showed he had suffered lateral ligament damage.
St George Illawarra are now two points behind the eighth-placed Panthers, whom they meet in a round 25-clash which could decide the finals fate of both teams.
The Dragons also play Gold Coast, Brisbane and Canterbury in their run home, while Penrith’s other games are against North Queensland, Canberra and Manly.
While seven of the eight places in the finals have all but been decided, the battle for the top four is wide open and only Melbourne are guaranteed a second chance if they lose the opening weekend of the finals.
After winning six games in a row, Parramatta are now equal with the Broncos and Sharks on 30 points and look set to claim a top four berth as their final four matches are against the Knights, Titans, Broncos and Rabbitohs.
In comparison, the third-placed Broncos play the Sharks, Dragons, Eels and Cowboys, while fourth-placed Cronulla meet Brisbane, North Queensland, Sydney Roosters and Newcastle.
Run Home
1. Storm (36) (+178): Roosters (home), Knights (away), Rabbitohs (home), Raiders (home).
2. Roosters (32) (+65): Storm (away), Tigers (home), Sharks (away), Titans (home)
3. Broncos (30) (+138): Sharks (home), Dragons (home), Eels (home), Cowboys (away)
4. Sharks (30) (+75): Broncos (away), Cowboys (away), Roosters (home), Knights (away)
5. Eels (30) (+12): Knights (home), Titans (home), Broncos (away), Rabbitohs (home)
6. Cowboys (28) (+44): Panthers (away), Sharks (home), Tigers (away), Broncos (home)
7. Sea Eagles (28) (+41): Tigers (away), Bulldogs (away), Warriors (away), Panthers (home)
8. Panthers (26) (+51): Cowboys (home), Raiders (away), Dragons (home), Sea Eagles (away)
9. Dragons (24) (+73): Titans (home), Broncos (away), Panthers (away), Bulldogs (home)
By Brad Walter | @BradWalterSport
Chief Correspondent, RLWC2017