We cast our eye on the NRL finals draw and plot each team's road map to the Grand Final

AS the NRL finals get ready to kick off in anger, we cast our eye on the draw and map out each team's potential run to the grand final.

AS the NRL finals get ready to kick off in anger, we cast our eye on the draw and map out each team's potential run to the grand final.

Sydney Roosters

The Chooks have got September heavyweights Manly to contend with on the first weekend, but if they can get past them, a grand final appearance starts to look likely. A week off, then a likely Preliminary Final against either the Rabbitohs or the Storm is the Roosters' best chance of safe passage.

Week One: v Manly Sea Eagles, Allianz Stadium, 7pm (EST) Saturday
Week Two: week off (if win v Manly), OR winner of Sharks v Cowboys (if lose v Manly)
Week Three: Preliminary Final v loser of Rabbitohs-Storm OR winner of Bulldogs-Knights
Week Four: Grand Final v winner of second Preliminary Final

South Sydney Rabbitohs

The Bunnies have had an exceptional 2013, but they start their finals campaign against perhaps their most feared nemesis. Michael Maguire's building an impressive resume as an NRL coach, but he is still yet to get one over his old boss Craig Bellamy in four attempts. A win against the Storm and a likely Prelim against Manly or the Roosters would be their final hurdle before the big one.

Week One: v Melbourne Storm, ANZ Stadium, 7.45pm (EST) Friday
Week Two: week off (if win v Storm), OR winner of Bulldogs v Knights (if lose v Storm)
Week Three: Preliminary Final v loser of Roosters-Sea Eagles OR winner of Sharks-Cowboys
Week Four: Grand Final v winner of first Preliminary Final

Melbourne Storm

The reigning premiers have had an up and down finish to the season, but if ever there was a September specialist, it's the Storm. A win against the Bunnies in week one will pave the way for a likely Prelim shoot-out against great rivals Manly or the exceptionally coached Roosters.

Week One: v South Sydney Rabbitohs, ANZ Stadium, 7.45pm (EST) Friday
Week Two: week off (if win v Rabbitohs), OR winner of Bulldogs v Knights (if lose v Rabbitohs)
Week Three: Preliminary Final v loser of Roosters-Sea Eagles OR winner of Sharks-Cowboys
Week Four: Grand Final v winner of first Preliminary Final

Manly Sea Eagles

The 2011 premiers rounded out their season with a loss to the Panthers, but it's not worth reading much into that, with Geoff Toovey's men smacking of a side in self-preservation mode with an eye to this weekend. While the Sea Eagles have been done twice by the Roosters already this season, they'll back their big game credentials to get them straight into yet another Preliminary Final.

Week One: v Sydney Roosters, Allianz Stadium, 7pm (EST) Saturday
Week Two: week off (if win v Roosters), OR v winner of Sharks v Cowboys (if lose v Roosters)
Week Three: Preliminary Final v loser of Rabbitohs-Storm OR winner of Bulldogs-Knights
Week Four: Grand Final v winner of second Preliminary Final

Cronulla Sharks

After a tumultuous season the Sharks have done remarkably well to stay focused for long enough to qualify as high as fifth. Now that they're there, they have a talented enough roster to make a splash in September. There's only one thing - they face perhaps an even more talented side in week one, and to make it worse they're the form team of the competition right now. And with the newly adopted finals format - lose and they're out.

Week One: v North Queensland Cowboys, Allianz Stadium, 4pm (EST) Saturday
Week Two: v loser of Roosters-Sea Eagles
Week Three: Preliminary Final v winner of Rabbitohs-Storm
Week Four: Grand Final v winner of first Preliminary Final

Canterbury Bulldogs

After a sluggish start to the season, last year's grand finalists have a chance to go one better in 2013, but they're starting from a long way back. You could mount a case that they have the easiest week one draw of anyone but the Knights have built some form over the last few weeks, and the Dogs have slipped up, making this a genuinely exciting knockout prospect.

Week One: v Newcastle Knights, ANZ Stadium, 4pm (EST) Sunday
Week Two: v loser of Rabbitohs-Storm
Week Three: Preliminary Final v winner of Roosters-Sea Eagles
Week Four: Grand Final v winner of second Preliminary Final

Newcastle Knights

The Knights have picked up their form at the right end of the season, but there's still some question marks over whether their best 17 has the class to match it with the other finalists. If Wayne Bennett could have picked any side to kick-off their top eight campaign, it would probably have been Des Haslrer's men.

Week One: v Canterbury Bulldogs, ANZ Stadium, 4pm (EST) Sunday
Week Two: v loser of Rabbitohs-Storm
Week Three: Preliminary Final v winner of Roosters-Sea Eagles
Week Four: Grand Final v winner of second Preliminary Final

North Queensland Cowboys

Undoubtedly the form side in the competition. Historically it's almost inconceivable that you can win a premiership from as far back as eighth but if anyone can do it, a talent-laden Cowboys outfit with Johnathan Thurston as their pilot are probably the team. Will fancy their chances of knocking off the Sharks and putting a scare through the title fancies in the top four.

Week One: v Cronulla Sharks, ANZ Stadium, 4pm (EST) Saturday
Week Two: v loser of Roosters v Sea Eagles
Week Three: Preliminary Final v winner of Rabbitohs-Storm
Week Four: Grand Final v winner of first Preliminary Final