But suddenly rugby league's annual leveller is a reality that the Knights will have to negotiate over the next two to three weeks, and how they handle this period may well determine their ultimate fate at the business end of proceedings.

Three key Newcastle players - David Klemmer, Daniel Saifiti and Mitchell Pearce - will represent NSW in next week's Origin-series decider at ANZ Stadium.

The opposition will include their Knights teammate Tim Glasby, and would also have featured another Novocastrian in Kalyn Ponga, except for an untimely injury.

All five will be missing from Newcastle's clash with the Warriors at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday.

A Warriors side, incidentally, who have been completely unaffected by Origin commitments.

Two days after Origin III, the Knights are at home against another team devoid of Origin players, last-placed Canterbury.

How many of Newcastle's Blues and Maroons back up against the Bulldogs remains to be seen, but Knights coach Nathan Brown made his thinking quite clear after Origin I when he ordered Ponga to stand down.

Klemmer, meanwhile, was ruled out after fracturing a wrist in NSW's 18-14 loss at Suncorp Stadium.

So for their next two games, Newcastle face the prospect of being undermanned against teams that they could be reasonably expected, at full strength, to beat on home turf.

A week later, they will be on the road for their first-ever game at the SCG, where they will face a Sydney Roosters team eagerly awaiting their chance to avenge a 38-12 spanking in round 11.

For some reason I have a sneaking suspicion that these three games will have a major bearing on whether Newcastle's season finishes with a bang or a whimper.

After eight wins from their first 14 games, the Knights are fifth on the points table, although realistically Manly should be ahead of them, given that the Sea Eagles have nine victories in their swag.

Melbourne, with 13 wins, apparently have the minor premiership at their mercy.

After them, South Sydney (10 wins) have suffered four straight losses and their early-season form is a fast-fading memory.

The Roosters, Canberra and Manly have nine wins apiece, ahead of Newcastle and Parramatta (both eight), Cronulla and Penrith (both seven), and St George Illawarra and North Queensland on six wins.

Any team beneath that should perhaps start planning Mad Monday, given that after this weekend there are only nine rounds remaining.

So it's a congested table, and whoever holds their nerve over the next few weeks will position themselves for the rails run into the finals.

In an ideal world, the Knights would win their two home games and, possibly further boosted by the return of the electrifying Ponga, carry momentum and confidence into their showdown with the Roosters.

The worst-case scenario, however, would be that their depleted line-up stumbles against both the Warriors and Bulldogs and then suffers a third consecutive defeat at the hands of the premiers.

Two wins from their next three fixtures would set Newcastle up nicely for a run home that comprises Wests Tigers (home), Manly (away), Parramatta (away), Cowboys (home), Tigers (away), Gold Coast (home) and Penrith (away).

A hat-trick of losses, however, would leave them in a dogfight with a host of other teams vying for the last remaining positions in the top eight.

Obviously there is no point complaining about Origin, because it's an inequity that is never going to change, and most clubs are affected at some point.

As Melbourne show year after year, you just have to deal with it, and hopefully emerge with enough energy and healthy troops to do some damage in the play-offs.

The key, of course, are the fringe first-graders who spend most of the year waiting impatiently for opportunities. For the first time since I can't remember when, there is cause to be optimistic that the Knights have enough depth to cope.

Into the team this week come proven performers Aidan Guerra and Danny Levi, returning from injuries, as well as Jacob Saifiti, who has not played in the NRL for more than a year after fracturing a shoulder and ankle.

Mason Lino and Kurt Mann were outstanding in last week's win against Brisbane, while Josh King and Jamie Buhrer will no doubt relish promotion to the run-on side.

Even in the absence of the aforementioned Origin quintet, as well as Edrick Lee (broken arm) and Mitch Barnett (suspended), Newcastle will field a team boasting a fair share of experience and quality against the unpredictable Warriors.

It's a far cry from coach Brown's first two seasons at the club, when he blooded 16 debutants and recalled Lakes United hooker Chris Adams from the district competition.

Stretched thin they may be, but the Knights are in with a chance.

And having reached the crossroads in their season, it would be nice to think they have come too far now to take the wrong turn.