KNIGHTS five-eighth Kurt Mann says Sydney Roosters will still be formidable opposition regardless of whether or not James Tedesco plays in Saturday's showdown at McDonald Jones Stadium.
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Tedesco looks set to join a host of high-profile teammates on the sidelines after the Test and NSW Origin fullback was concussed by a high shot from St George Illawarra winger Jordan Pereira in Sunday's Anzac Day clash at the SCG.
Pereira has since been charged with a grade-three careless high tackle and faces a likely three-game ban.
The Roosters' caution with concussed players has been well documented.
Hooker Jake Friend was advised to retire recently after a series of head knocks, while his co-captain Boyd Cordner has been stood down for the first half of this season in the hope he can recover from his own bouts of concussion.
Given that this is Tedesco's third concussion in the space of 12 months, it is hard to imagine him backing up to play the Knights.
Add Luke Keary (knee injury) to Tedesco, Cordner and Friend, and the Roosters are set to be without four of their most influential players on Saturday.
For most clubs, losing such a high-quality quartet would be insurmountable, but after Sunday's 34-10 demolition of the Dragons, the Roosters will deservedly start as $1.47 favourites against a Newcastle team who have lost four of their part five games.
"I wouldn't say they'd be easier to beat at any stage, regardless of who's playing," Mann said.
"A team coached by Trent Robinson is always going to be a hard team to beat.
"They've got a great culture there and whatever team they put out there, they're always going to be hard to beat."
Mann nonetheless acknowledged that the presence of the man widely regarded as the world's No.1 player would make any team "more dangerous".
"It's a good test for us if he does play," Mann said.
"We get to see where we're at, this time of year."
In the likely absence of Tedesco, Robinson could switch Brett Morris to fullback and bring in winger Matt Ikavalu.
Alternatively, is this the week that Robinson promotes 17-year-old schoolboy Joseph Sualii for his NRL debut?
Newcastle are hoping to have winger Queensland Origin Edrick Lee (foot) and Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) available for their first games this year.
"We've lacked a bit coming out of yardage and to have Eddy back will be massive," Mann said.
"He carries the ball well coming out of back field, and he's a massive kick target as well, out there on the wing.
"If we could get him back, it would be good, and everyone has seen how good Fitzy goes.
"He's tough, he's uncompromising and he gets the job done. To have those two up for selection this week would be massive for us."
