NRL: Tigers to play own game

Tigers coach Tim Sheens. Photo / Getty Images

After five long years, the Wests Tigers are back into the NRL finals and coach Tim Sheens is urging his players to relax and play without fear against Parramatta today.

The fourth-placed Tigers have not figured in the finals since their 2005 grand final win and can snuff out the Eels' season once and for all at a sold-out Parramatta Stadium.

The Eels, who sit 11th on the ladder, are once again doing things the hard way. Although Sheens concedes the game is not a must-win one for his side, he said the pressure is all on Daniel Anderson's side.

"You don't want to try not to win or worry about losing, but we want to be relaxed, although that doesn't mean we want to play circus football," Sheens said. "But what we are going to do is play our style of game."

Sheens knows all about struggling to scrape into the eight in the final rounds of the season and said he has switched his focus to trying to secure a top-four finish and a home final.

"The season is all about where you finish and certainly if you lose all three games and play ordinary it hurts your for and against. You don't want to go into the finals on the back of defeats," he said.

"We have been in their position for the last four years ... it is just about where we finish, we want to relax."

Sheens is satisfied with his side's season so far, but concerned about switching off and missing out on a top-four finish.

"I am not silly enough to say I am not happy, but there is still three games to go.

"You can't afford to stop and think everything is fine."

Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne inspired the 26-18 win over the Tigers 12 months ago when his side were in a similar position.

Sheens is well aware of the threat of the NSW and test superstar but believes Parramatta are no longer relying on just the 22-year-old to win.

"Parramatta are a big, strong side with good second phase and more than Hayne are playing well for them," he said.

"Jarryd is a big player for them, but they are a big, strong side and we have struggled against Manly and St George. They are similar, so we have to get over that otherwise it will be tough."

- AAP