Barry Toohey’s game preview: Knights vs. Sharks

1. Valentine Holmes 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Josh Dugan 4. Kurt Capewell 5. Edrick Lee 6. Matt Moylan 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Matt Prior 11. Luke Lewis 12. Wade Graham 13. Paul Gallen

Interchange: 14.Scott Sorensen 15. James Segeyaro 16. Aaron Woods 17. Jayson Bukuya

Reserves: 18. Joseph Paulo 19. Ava Seumanufagai 20. Sione Katoa 21. Kyle Flanagan

Knights:

1. Nick Meaney 2. Ken Sio 3. Sione Mata’utia 4. Cory Denniss 5. Shaun Kenny-dowall 6. Kalyn Ponga 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Herman Ese’ese 9. Danny Levi 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Aidan Guerra

Interchange: 14. Jamie Buhrer 15. Chris Heighington 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Josh King

Reserves: 18. Jacob Lillyman 19. JJ Felise 20. Connor Watson 21. Luke Yates

The physicality of the Cronulla forward pack has been a real issue for the Knights in more recent times with the Sharks having won the past seven encounters between the two sides. Their most recent meeting in round 12 at McDonald Jones Stadium produced an embarrassing 48-10 loss for the Knights that saw them concede nine tries including four in 12 minutes either side of halfway. It prompted Knights coach Nathan Brown to declare the only positive out of the game for the home side was the performance of Newcastle-bound Sharks centre Jesse Ramien. The Sharks will again look to their pack to try and intimidate the Knights up the middle. Wade Graham returns from injury on an edge and Luke Lewis will be playing his final game at Shark Park.

Matt Moylan v Kalyn Ponga

What a mouth-watering attacking match-up this is. Moylan has taken his time to find his feet at the club but his recent form for the Sharks has been outstanding while Ponga - well, words struggle to do him justice. The Sharks did do a great job defensively on him in round 12 and will no doubt be banking on their backrowers to keep him under wraps again.

Andrew Fifita v Herman Ese'ese

In the right mood, Fifita is one of the best props in the game and will be a real handful while Ese'ese has been consistently among Newcastle's best every week.

Valentine Holmes has been in great touch and loves scoring tries again the Knights. He needs just one four pointer to become the Sharks' highest try-scorer in a season and it would be a brave person to suggest he won't snare one here.

The Sharks are playing for a top four spot and are farewelling Lewis at home so have plenty to play for and will fancy their chances of keeping their great recent record against the Knights intact. The Knights though have been buoyed by the way they controlled the massive Penrith forward pack and another similar defensive effort will give the Sharks plenty to think about.