Those comments from Parramatta coach Brad Arthur should fill Eels fans with hope that their team can create history to make the NRL finals after being stripped of all 12 points they had accumulated for their six wins in the opening nine rounds.

While the points won't be officially docked until Parramatta have been given the right to appeal the penalties for breaching the salary cap by $570,000, which include a $1 million fine and the banning of five officials, the Eels head into Friday night's match against South Sydney knowing they are now eight points outside the top eight in last place.

With hooker Nathan Peats having been squeezed out  to enable Parramatta to get under the salary cap, there is anger towards those responsible for the breaches and a volatile atmosphere is anticipated at Pirtek Stadium after Eels employees reported abuse and threats directed at the club on social media.

messages sent to the Eels today calling us c*nts: 16. electronically-sent threats to burn down leagues club: 1.— Sass Neill (@beyourbird) May 12, 2016

But the fact the Eels are now able to play for points should prevent tensions from boiling over and fans are planning to pay tribute to Peats, who wore the No.9 jersey, with a minute's applause in the ninth minute of the game.

It has been widely estimated Parramatta will need to win 12 of their remaining 15 matches to make the play-offs but 11 wins, plus four points from two byes may be enough as Arthur's men will retain their +45 points differential from the opening nine rounds.

To make the finals, the Eels will have to better the feats of the 1999 Brisbane team which won just one of their opening nine matches and also lost the 10th before winning 12 of their remaining 14 games to finish eighth, but the Broncos had a points differential of -55 at the corresponding time of the season.

Calling at Eels fans. We all should stand & clap 4 Peatsy @ 9th min mark on Friday #cheerforPeatsy9thmin #BlueandGold #Army #PeatsoverPoints— Brendan Smith (@brendansmith05) May 11, 2016

Even in 2009 when a stunning run of form by Jarryd Hayne carried Parramatta to the grand final, the Eels only won nine of their last 15 regular season matches, including seven in a row., while Wests Tigers' charge to the 2005 premiership featured 11 wins from their last 16 games before the finals.

However, Parramatta players and fans only have to look back 12 months to know the task is achievable after Sydney Roosters won 15 of their last 16 matches to claim a third consecutive minor premiership.

The Eels, who play just three of their remaining 15 games against top-four teams, are in good form and have been playing with confidence so they are in a healthier position than most sides trying to kick start their premiership campaign but how the players cope mentally will be the key.

"It's been tough but it has been tough on everyone. There is no point us complaining, we just have to get on with it," Arthur told his players on Thursday after the departure of hooker Nathan Peats to enable the team to become salary cap compliant ahead of the clash with Souths.

"We are very fortunate, we have got a choice to make now. We can control what we get out of the rest of the season .., so we can't be feeling sorry for ourselves. This is the situation and we have got to move on."

The closest comparison to the situation the Eels face is the 2006 Warriors, who were forced to start the season four points behind the rest of the competition as punishment for salary cap breaches the year before.

Former Warriors centre Clinton Toopi said the situation had "scarred" the players but the Auckland-based team regained the four points by winning their opening two games and went on the make the finals.

Penalised: Warriors centre Clinton Toopi on the charge during the 2006 NRL season. Photo: Phil Walter

"Winning and losing becomes a culture, and this type of adversity will really show how strong their culture is," Toopi said of the Eels. "Hopefully that will shine through all this adversity and tough times because, as competitive as it is, you never want to see any team go backwards.

"Obviously something like this is a big knock but we just tried to keep it as close to business as usual with our training and preparation. The media is probably the hardest thing that you have got to manage because as much as people say not to you still find yourself reading stories or getting media fed to you through your family or friends and people asking you questions.

"I don't think we really climbed out of it for a while, it did scar us for a bit, but at the same time you try to do the best you can and try to stay focused.

"I'd like to think that they are professional athletes and they will bring that determined, upbeat attitude and fight their way out of it. If they do that they are still a chance - like a miracle - but if the way they have been playing is anything to go by they will have a crack at it."

Watching the Eels attempt their climb back up the premiership ladder is going to be fascinating a boisterous crowd will be on hand at Pirteck Stadium on Friday night to cheer them as they begin the task.

"Our fans have been fantastic for us," Arthur said. "They have had just as many excuses as the playing group to walk away but they haven't, and now we need them more than ever."