With one eye on the finals, Knights coach Adam O'Brien will play a waiting game before deciding how many minutes matchwinners Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga play against the Brisbane Broncos in today's final round clash in Brisbane.
O'Brien is already resting five regular starters from the 'dead-rubber' game with backrower Tyson Frizell the latest player to be given a leave pass by the coach to rest a minor injury concern.
Frizell, who is in no doubt for next weekend's elimination semifinal, joins Jayden Brailey, Jacob Saifiti and Mitch Barnett from the forward pack and winger Hymel Hunt, as spectators for the game. Another forward, Daniel Saifiti is still sidelined due to injury.
O'Brien has given little away about his intentions for his chief playmakers, with the outcome of the game having no bearing on the team's finals finish.
On a roll after winning their past five games, the Knights are keen to keep that momentum intact heading into next week but it's unlikely that will translate into Pearce and Ponga playing the full 80 minutes.
The expectation is they will be on the field for at least the opening half and could play as much as 60 minutes before being replaced.
The wisdom in them both playing at all has been questioned during the week with a number of other teams already in the finals opting to give their biggest stars the weekend off.
But O'Brien wants to see his side gel a little more in attack against the Broncos, heading into the play-offs, while retaining the same defensive resolve that has been a feature of their winning streak. That means risking his key attacking strike-weapons, at least for part of the contest.
"We can play a little more free given the result doesn't change our ladder position, but we don't want to be reckless and lose our momentum," O'Brien said.
"We've played a little bit tight because we've essentially played knockout footy for five weeks.
"If we dropped a game there for a while, we weren't going to be able to make the eight so this is a little bit different."
O'Brien said his side won't be going out to throw caution to the wind in attack.
"It's not (about being) reckless or stupid," he said. "We're not going against the laws of rugby league. You still need to hang onto the ball and play smart. But I feel it is an opportunity to fall into that stuff a bit quicker than they have been recently."
With six players missing, it gives a number of young team members an opportunity at the top level.
With Frizell out, Jack Johns has been elevated from the bench and will now start on the right edge, opening the door for the long-awaited return of young prop Pasami Saulo on the bench.
Apart from featuring in a lower-grade mixed teams scrimmage last Sunday, Saulo hasn't played since suffering a sickening lower leg fracture in a NSW Cup game against the Raiders in Wagga back in early May.
