Wests Tigers are embracing the pressure of a high-stakes end to their NRL season, but captain Api Koroisau insists a third straight wooden spoon wouldn't ruin the momentum building for 2025.
The back-to-back wooden spooners tackle 16th-placed Parramatta in a highlight of the final round of the season, with the loser of the 'spoonbowl' to finish last.
The Tigers have a chance to end the season with a third straight win in front of a sold-out crowd at Campbelltown Stadium, but Koroisau says Friday night will not define their season.
"We've taken a step in the right direction this year, even though the results have not gone our way," he said.
"The footy that we've been playing and the way we have been trying to play."
However, Koroisau admitted it was a big game for Benji Marshall's side as they confront the prospect of becoming only the second team in the NRL era to claim three consecutive wooden spoons.
"Pressure is a privilege," he said.
"For us it is a pretty important game, we don't want to come last."
Young star Lachlan Galvin said no matter the result, the improvement by the club this season has been clear as they prepare to welcome gun recruit Jarome Luai in 2025.
"We've gotten better since the start of the year and from November last year to now I think we're such a better team," Galvin said.
"Adding the players next year and how hard we're going to work in the pre-season, we're really on the up.
"It's going to be massive ... we're gonna go down on Friday night and give it our best attention.
"It is obviously Benji's first year and a lot of us boys have debuted for our first year so no one really wants the spoon."
Newcastle are currently the only club to have achieved a spoon three-peat during the NRL era, finishing last in 2015-17.
The Tigers are coming off a bye, having recorded a gutsy win over Manly at Leichhardt Oval prior to the break.
The Eels have won nine of their past 11 matches against Wests, but the Tigers caused an upset in the rivals' round-four meeting at CommBank Stadium with a 17-16 victory.
The Tigers haven't beaten the Eels twice in one season since 2012.
