Maguire on Tuesday named 22-year-old Oliver Clark to start up front in a game likely to make or break the Tigers' finals hopes.

Clark has played only twice in the NRL, for 23 minutes off the bench against Penrith in round nine, and for 35 minutes as starting prop against South Sydney in round 15. The Tigers won both games.

At 1.91 metres and 107 kilograms, Clark will concede size as well as experience to Klemmer and Saifiti, the starting front-rowers for NSW in their series-clinching victory against Queensland two weeks ago.

Clark comes in for Alex Twal, who has been dropped to the bench after starting in all 17 of the Tigers' games so far this season.

A mid-season signing from Penrith last year, Clark was described by Maguire before his top-grade debut as "a really mature young man" who was ready for an opportunity.

"When I first came here he worked really hard through the pre-season and I could see some signs there that he was going to step up," Maguire said at the time.

"He's been around this sort of level for some time now and he understands what is required."

Like the Knights, the Tigers have lost their past three games, prompting Maguire to challenge his troops to "harden up as a group" after last week's 20-12 defeat in Canberra.

With seven regular-season rounds remaining, the Tigers trail eighth-placed Newcastle by two points, so Friday's showdown shapes as crucial for both teams.

Klemmer, however, insisted there was no need for panic, even after being embarrassed 48-10 by the Roosters last week.

"We've got to come out and put in a better performance," Klemmer said on Wednesday.

"For 55 minutes last week, we were in the fight and then we just fell off. If we can play a full 80 minutes of football, we're going to be a good chance to win a footy game.

"As a group we know what it takes to win footy games and be consistent at doing that ... last week was a good reality check for us as a playing group."