The new pre-season is beginning early for the New Zealand Warriors, in contrast to their next opponents on Saturday night, who still have plenty to the play for in this year's National Rugby League (NRL).
Out of finals contention with four rounds still to go, the Warriors are away to Parramatta, whose surge over the past month has them knocking on the door of the top eight.
Four consecutive wins have lifted the Eels, under former Warriors coach Daniel Anderson, from near the bottom of the table to just one point from sixth place.
It was the type of comeback the Warriors had specialised in over the past two seasons, when they came from way back to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
But with just six wins all year, and only one in their past seven matches, there will be no thrilling ride home this time around.
Coach Ivan Cleary can see the irony in the Warriors' coming up against a side who are assuming their role of fast finishers.
"Yeah, I'd rather be in their position, but the reality is we're not," he said.
"The next four games are effectively the start of our pre-season. How we finish will be a marker of how we start next year.
"It's a different feeling and a different dynamic, but there's a lot to play for and that's how we'll be approaching it."
After a disappointing 10-30 loss to Gold Coast last weekend, when the Warriors were dominated during a first quarter in which they fell 0-14 behind, Cleary has made changes to his starting pack.
Prop Evarn Tuimamave, who returned from a lengthy injury spell this month, is promoted off the bench, as are hooker Ian Henderson and second rower Ukuma Ta'ai.
While Gold Coast "beat us all over the field" at the start, Cleary said his interchange players gave the side "a real lift" when they came on.
Back in the side is former Eel Wade McKinnon, dropped last week after the fullback was late to a recovery session and replaced by youngster Kevin Locke, who was move in from the wing.
Cleary said he was happy with the way Locke went in the No 1 jersey, but felt the experience and leadership that McKinnon offered was what the Warriors needed at the moment.
McKinnon's head-to-head duel with New South Wales Origin representative Jarryd Hayne is a potential highlight at Parramatta Stadium.
Hayne has been in superb form for both club and state, and has made more metres and line breaks than any other player in the NRL this year.
Meanwhile, Cleary said it was hard to know when skipper Steve Price would be back from the rib cartilage injury that sidelined him from the past two matches.
"He's been doing a fair bit of what we've been doing lately," he said.
"I don't think he's too far off. Hopefully he's right for next week."
The Warriors won the opening round match against Parramatta in Auckland in March 26-18.
Cleary played down the fact he would again be up against his former coach this weekend.
It wasn't something he had thought about, but yes, he would like to get a win against Anderson.
"Yeah, I'd just like to beat anyone at the moment."
NZPA