Andrew Johns may be on Parramatta's coaching staff but he's starting to see signs of vulnerability against the NRL's big guns.
Johns is tipping the Eels to bounce back in Saturday's third vs fourth clash against the Rabbitohs after a "poor" display against Manly but he worries that they match-up poorly against Souths' biggest strength.
In Sunday's boilover loss, the Eels' right edge was tormented by the crafty playmaking of rising star Josh Schuster and the running threat of Tom Trbojevic.
Having watched the Eels battle to contain the Sea Eagles, Johns raised concerns about that same edge's ability to handle the likes of Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell.
"Well the worrying thing, the Eels' right side defence looked very vulnerable," Johns told Brad Fittler for Wide World of Sports' Freddy & Joey's Tips.
"That's up against the Rabbitohs' left side – Cody, Latrell, Alex Johnston."
Still, after considering his tip, Johns said he'd "go for the Eels to bounce back".
Having heard Johns' analysis Fittler said he would "go for the Rabbitohs to bounce back".
After outstanding starts to the season, both Souths and Parramatta have slipped in premiership calculations in recent weeks, with both desperate for a win to restore credibility before the squads for Origin I are picked on Sunday.
Should the Rabbitohs lose on Saturday they are in danger of dropping out of the top four for the first time all season, having conceded 50 points or more in two recent defeats.
The Eels, meanwhile, face the prospect of losing touch with the top two, Penrith and the Storm, if they lose their second match on the bounce.
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 12 tips by Johns, Fittler and all Nine's expert tipsters!
Brad Fittler: Storm, Cowboys, Tigers, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Sharks, Sea Eagles
Andrew Johns: Storm, Cowboys, Tigers, Panthers, Eels, Raiders, Titans, Sea Eagles
Peter Sterling: Storm, Warriors, Tigers, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Titans, Sea Eagles
Billy Slater: Storm, Warriors, Tigers, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Sharks, Sea Eagles
Paul Gallen: Storm, Warriors, Tigers, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Sharks, Sea EaglesĀ
Ruan Sims: Storm, Warriors, Dragons, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Titans, Sea Eagles
Darren Lockyer: Broncos, Cowboys, Tigers, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Titans, Sea Eagles
The Mole: Storm, Warriors, Tigers, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Titans, Sea Eagles
James Bracey: Storm, Cowboys, Dragons, Panthers, Eels, Roosters, Titans, Sea Eagles
Peter Psaltis: Storm, Cowboys, Tigers, Panthers, Eels, Roosters, Titans, Sea Eagles
Tim Elbra: Storm, Cowboys, Wests Tigers, Panthers, Eels, Roosters, Titans, Sea Eagles
Ben Glover: Storm, Warriors, Tigers, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Sharks, Sea Eagles
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