Brad Arthur has warned Parramatta players that Mitch Moses can't fix all their problems as they attempt to overturn a horror end-of-season record to stay in the NRL top four.
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Friday night's clash with South Sydney shapes as crucial in the Eels' season, with Parramatta facing the hardest run home of any team.
Under pressure to keep fourth spot from the Sydney Roosters and Manly, the Eels have lost three of their past four games and still have dates with Melbourne, the Sea Eagles and Penrith to come.
They will also have to do it without prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, with coach Arthur revealing on Thursday that he was not set to play before the finals due a groin injury.
But with Moses set to return for the first time since suffering a minor back fracture in State of Origin III, Arthur said the halfback couldn't be expected to the Eels saviour.
"The pressure is more on the whole group around providing opportunity, and providing something to play off," Arthur said.
"Over the last couple of weeks our effort hasn't been good enough. I don't think we've carried the ball with the same purpose.
"I don't think we've tried to play the ball with the same purpose, which then it makes it hard to create opportunities
"We've get back to working hard for each other in front load our effort, then Mitchell will have a bit more time and space with the ball."
Parramatta's form at the back end of their campaigns have long been a point of concern.
Since they became genuine finals contenders in 2017, Parramatta are 4-13 against other top-eight teams in the last quarter of the regular season plus finals.
That record includes the 28-0 loss to the Roosters last week and just one one finals win from six games in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
It comes despite the Eels going 8-1 to start last season and 9-1 this year.
"We're not going to make any apologies for starting the season well... ," Arthur said.
"We've put ourselves in a good position, but now it's up to us. Everything's in our control.
"And yeah, we've learned things but you learn things just with time and experienced as well."
PARRAMATTA'S END-OF-SEASON TOP-EIGHT GAMES
2017:
Parramatta 28 bt Brisbane 14
Parramatta 52 bt Brisbane 34
Melbourne 18 bt Parramatta 16
North Queensland 24 bt Parramatta 16
2018*:
South Sydney 26 bt Parramatta 20
Melbourne 20 bt Parramatta 4
Sydney Roosters 44 bt Parramatta 10
2019:
Brisbane 17 bt Parramatta 16
Parramatta 32 bt Manly 16
Parramatta 58 bt Brisbane 0
Melbourne 32 bt Parramatta 0
2020:
South Sydney 38 bt Parramatta 0
Penrith 20 bt Parramatta 2
Melbourne 36 bt Parramatta 24
South Sydney 38 bt Parramatta 22
2021:
Sydney Roosters 28 bt Parramatta 0
* Missed the finals in 2018
Australian Associated Press