The heavily-depleted Newcastle Knights won't have to look far to be inspired when they go in as big underdogs against Parramatta at McDonald Jones Stadium tomorrow.
Their inspiration will be sitting together in a group watching the game from the grandstand.
It's two decades since the Andrew Johns-led Knights stunned the Eels, the hottest of grand final favourites, in the 2001 decider. Adam O'Brien's patched-up squad will be out to complete a similar ambush over Parramatta at home on Old Boys' Day with Johns and his premiership-winning team watching on.
Without their four highest-paid stars - Kalyn Ponga, Mitchell Pearce, David Klemmer and Tyson Frizell - and with Blues' Origin prop Daniel Saifiti unavailable and first-string wingers Edrick Lee and Hymel Hunt on the injured list, few outside the inner sanctum give this current Knights a realistic chance.
But the confidence gleaned from the upset win over Manly last Sunday along with the emotion surrounding the day and a big home crowd will count for plenty.
O'Brien will finalised his squad after captain's run today with speculation surrounding the fitness of utility Kurt Mann and how he plans to use new recruit Jake Clifford. Mann missed the win over Manly after straining his groin the day before the game and has spend most of this week in rehab. He'll need to get through the club's final session to take his place on the bench.
After only arriving in Newcastle last Sunday following his release from the Cowboys, Clifford has impressed everyone with how quickly he has settled in.
"He's been great around the group and has fitted in really easily," Knights prop Jacob Saifiti said.
"He already knew Kalyn [Ponga] and Enari [Tuala] from when they were at the Cowboys but he's got to know the rest of the boys pretty quickly and he's already been a voice for us at training. The only thing he is not used to yet is the weather. He's been complaining about how cold it is from what he's used to in Townsville."
While O'Brien originally named Clifford in his extended squad in jersey No.18, it will be a surprise if he doesn't find a spot for him in the starting side come kick-off time.
After the Manly victory eased some of the pressure on the side, lock Mitch Barnett says the challenge now is backing up that performance without the aid of several big names.
"I'm taking it as a challenge for me to step up as are many of the other boys," he said. "The Eels will feel like they have a point to prove and their coach will have them up, especially after two losses. They are a good footy side as well so we are going to have to be at our best."
