Parramatta star fullback Jarryd Hayne credits the Eels' mid-NRL season lift in form to a collective aversion to finishing with the dreaded wooden spoon.

Flying high after winning an astounding nine of their last ten games - and with the NRL premiership in sight - Hayne remembers when the Eels' season wasn't looking so bright.

Talk of which club might finish with the wooden spoon weighed heavily on the Parramatta club as early as round 17 after they were only once able to string together two consecutive wins.

Hayne said talk of the spoon was just the ammunition the Eels needed to get their season back on course.

"We sat down and spoke about the wooden spoon and not being a part of it and not getting it, Hayne said.

"(The wooden spoon) is what's been driving the boat the whole time.

"I remember when I came out of Origin camp and we played Melbourne that was sort of the week mathematically if we had of lost we weren't a chance (of the finals).

"It was round (19) and finals were still a long way away.

"I think we all just dug deep, we won that game and we beat the Bulldogs the week after and won six in a row and that was the real turning point and why we've gone so well.

It's sudden-death again for the Eels when they face the Bulldogs in a preliminary final on Friday night at ANZ Stadium.

Hayne said Parramatta had the belief and the ability to topple the `Dogs.

"Obviously they're the team to beat, they finished second, they probably should have finished first," Hayne said.

"We know what we've got to do and as long as we play out of our skins that's all we can hope for.

"It's a different feel and a total different team to what it was 10 weeks ago.

"We're all just playing for each other and the forward pack's (been) the main improvers.

"The reason why we're here today is because of our forward pack."

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