**<big>Wests Tigers centre Chris Lawrence says NRL title race is wide open</big>\
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Paul Crawley From: The Daily Telegraph August 02, 2011 12:00AM**
CHRIS Lawrence doesn't share the view of most experts that this year's title race is down to four teams.
"Obviously the top four have been consistent all year, so they deserve to be the favourites," the Tigers star said.
"But once you get in that top eight, it is a completely different game.
"Really, you can come eighth, win four in a row and you win a grand final.
"So it's all about who is playing good at the right time of the year."
Not that the Tigers are getting carried away with their own form. Three wins on the trot will mean nothing if they can't back it up against the Dragons.
"We are sitting in eighth spot, we are not sitting first or second, so we are not guaranteed a semi-final spot," Lawrence said. "There is no getting carried away from us.
"We know if we drop one or two games we could fall back and that will be our season, so there is no time to get carried away."
Lawrence is looking forward to his one-on-one showdown with Mark Gasnier.
"I love playing against Gaz," he said.
"He's been one of the best centres in the world for a number of years and when you mark up against the best it always keeps you on your toes.
"It brings out the best in a footballer."