k, get sacks and a lot more turnovers.The Baltimore offen

Team news:Its almost a cliche now but rarely have we seen a closer NRL competition than this year.When Melbourne and Cronulla kick-off on Saturday night to decide the 2016 minor premiership, there will have been 372 NRL games that have come and gone and still it boils down to the final round to decide top spot after the regular season.Cronulla will assume the mental edge after downing the Melbourne 14-6 when the two sides last met in round four and a timely return to the winners list against the Roosters will lift confidence.History weighs heavily in favour of Melbourne, the Storm having won two-thirds of the encounters between the clubs while they havent lost to the Sharks at home since 2008.Melbourne Storm:?1. Cameron Munster, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Will Chambers, 4. Ryan Morgan, 5. Marika Koroibete, 6. Blake Green, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Tim Glasby, 11. Kenny Bromwich, 12. Tohu Harris, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Felise Kaufusi, 15. Christian Welch, 16. Jordan McLean, 17. Ben Hampton, 21. Matt White.Cronulla Sharks:?1. Ben Barba, 2. Sosaia Feki, 3. Jack Bird, 4. Gerard Beale, 5. Valentine Holmes, 6. James Maloney, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Andrew Fifita, 9. Michael Ennis, 10. Matt Prior, 11. Luke Lewis, 12. Wade Graham, 13. Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14. Joseph Paulo, 15. Chris Heighington, 16. Jesse Sene-Lefao, 17. Jayson Bukuya.What they said:These guys (Cronulla) are very good at being aggressive and trying to put you off your game, we just cant allow that to happen. - Cameron Smith, Storm captain.Youve just got to prepare for a tough game ... theyre going to come down here and play an aggressive style so weve got to match that. - Jesse Bromwich, Storm prop.It is always good fun coming up against quality opposition so Saturday night should be a good test. - Blake Green, Storm five-eighth.Theyre always hard down there. Their record over the past 10 years shows theyre a tough team and weve got now doubt how hard its going to be for us. - Wade Graham, Sharks forward.Key head-to-head - Cameron Smith vs Michael EnnisTwo of the craftiest players in the NRL and the two players that hold the key to victory for their respective teams.As dummy-halves, they will have their hands on the ball more often than most and that alone makes them a major threat to the opposition.Smith is arguably the smartest brain in the competition; he understands the game better than any other. Hes neither fast, big and is no great stepper, but he has an ability to influence referees as well as mesmerise and manipulate opposing defences with his scheming.Michael Ennis has similar qualities and although not as polished in each area, he is a genuine competitor that will do anything to win for his teammates. He is a world-class niggler and has the ability to unsettle the opposition with some subtle actions or a few well chosen words.Key Stats:The Storm have won 12 of their previous 15 matches against the Sharks.The Sharks have won just four matches against the Storm in Melbourne.The Storm boast a strong head to head record over the Sharks - winning 20 of 30 matches.The Storm are coming off a defeat to Brisbane but are yet to lose consecutive games this season.UBET verdict:Melbourne Storm ($1.45) v Cronulla Sharks ($2.75), AAMI Park, Saturday at 7.30pmThe Sharks got back into the winners list last week but the worry is they did give the Roosters 12 points start.The Storm were beaten last week, but the minor premiership awaits the winner, so there is plenty on the line.Cronulla defeated Melbourne the last time they met but all of the early money is on Melbourne.Weather:Sydney is expecting a chilly temperature of 11 degrees by kick-off with only a 10 percent chance of rain.Prediction:The finals start a week early for these two sides and Melbourne have too much experience in this area for Cronulla.Its no secret that Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk are key for the Storm - both have regularly shown at club, Origin and international level that the bigger the game, the better they play and this is the type of environment they enjoy most.The Sharks have had a fantastic season but I still have my doubts that they can find another gear required for finals football and its a quality theyll need to show against the Storm on Saturday.After a month without a win, Paul Gallens return from injury made a noticeable difference to Cronullas physicality and composure. The Sharks are a huge chance of claiming their first minor premiership since 1999 but I am just leaning towards the Storm on this occasion because of the Smith/Cronk factor, their superior experience and the home ground advantage.Tip: Melbourne by 8 Hydro Flask Schweiz . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. Swell Bottle Schweiz Kaufen . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. http://www.swellflascheschweiz.ch/ . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Swell Flaschen Schweiz . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Swell Flasche Rosa . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. BALTIMORE -- There once was a time when Ray Lewis served as the centerpiece of the best defense in the NFL.That role is now being played by Zachary Orr, the Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker and leading tackler on a unit ranked No. 1 in the league.Though the names have changed, the philosophy behind the Ravens defense remains the same.So does its effectiveness.The current edition of the Baltimore defense is not yet worthy of being compared some of the great ones of the past, most notably the 2000 version, which set a record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season before winning the Super Bowl.But entering Monday nights game against the New England Patriots, the Ravens (7-5) are in the mix for the AFC North title on the strength of a defense that has limited the opposition to an NFL-low 73.8 yards rushing per game.Theyre the first-rated defense in the league, so no one has done a better job over the course of the season than them, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said.They dont give you anything easy. You have to earn it. They do a good mix with their scheme and also with their personnel.The plan hasnt changed much since Lewis arrived in Baltimore in 1996. While the tackles jammed the front of the line, Lewis honed in on the guy with the ball. In case of a pass, safety Ed Reed had Lewis back.Tony Siragusa, Haloti Ngata, Kelly Gregg and several others played front man for Lewis, who retired after Baltimore beat San Francisco in the 2012 Super Bowl.This season, the 335-pound Brandon Williams is paving the way for Orr.He is in the middle of the defense, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said. That is the heart of it, if you ask me.For a long time around here, we had the great Ray Lewis, but nobody ever really mentioned Kelly Gregg and the dominance that he had. Our middle linebacker and our nose guards, thats pretty much the source of our defense.Dean Pees has followed the practice of former Ravens defensive coordinators Marvvin Lewis and Rex Ryan in utilizing that sound strategy.ddddddddddddWith Williams up front, Orr in the middle and three-time Pro Bowl safety Eric Weddle in the back end, Baltimore has allowed only 17.3 points per game.We know how we want to play fundamentally, Pees said. You just have to play that way.Now in his fifth season as Ravens defensive coordinator, Pees knows how to put together a unit and make it work.Were sitting at the top of the league right now because of the things hes been doing, cornerback Jimmy Smith said.Last weeks 38-6 rout of Miami was one of those rare afternoons when both the offense and defense were clicking in unison. If the offense continues to improve, so will the defense.Ill tell you this: Our defense is going to look even better if -- and when -- our offense goes out and puts up points, Smith said, because we can start playing the defense where we can get after a lot of guys, pin our ears back, get sacks and a lot more turnovers.The Baltimore offense should be tested by the Patriots, who in turn know theyll have to be at their best to score on the Ravens.Asked what concerned him most about the Baltimore defense, New England coach Bill Belichick said, Pretty much everything. Tough to run against, very good on third down, dont give up a lot of points, turn the ball over.You just cant be sloppy around this defense. You have to take good care of the football and youve got to be physical with them. Theyve got some big, strong guys up front.Its been that way for a long, long time. Just ask Orr, who entered the weekend tied for fourth in the NFL with 112 tackles.I have great players around me that have allowed me to flourish in this system, Orr said. Its probably the best situation I could be in.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '