Bulldogs veteran Brett Kimmorley believes Parramatta's lack of finals inexperience in key positions could work in the Eels' favour in Friday night's NRL preliminary final.

Parramatta's halves pairing of Daniel Mortimer and Jeff Robson as well as hooker Matthew Keating are all taking part on their first finals campaign, their inexperience in stark comparison to the Bulldogs' playmaking trio of Kimmorley, Ben Roberts and Michael Ennis.

But Kimmorley, who won a premiership with Melbourne in 1999 when Mortimer was just 10 years of age, said playing in a series of sudden-death matches just to get to the situation they now find themselves in had given Parramatta's young brigade the confidence to perform in pressure games.

"Sometimes inexperienced blokes are ready for semis as well, they've obviously handled the pressure of having to win so many games in a row to make the semis," Kimmorley said.

"They've got all that momentum going for them, they're all very confident - sometimes a young kid who's inexperienced, if they've got a bit of confidence, they carry a bit of aura and think `I'm bullet-proof, I can do anything'."

Kimmorley, meanwhile, admitted just playing football would be a bonus considering he thought he season was over when he fractured his cheekbone in three places just three weeks ago.

"I think the fact we're going to get 60,0000 at ANZ Stadium - it's a buzz to be a part of," Kimmorley said.

"To be around this time of year when I thought maybe I wasn't going to be playing is terrific."

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