Adam O'Brien is missing key personnel and been at pains during the pre-season to emphasis the need for his side to build into their 2021 campaign in a bid to avoid a late-season wipeout.
But the Knights coach is adamant his longer term focus will not give his players a licence to lower their standards in tonight's NRL season-opener against the Bulldogs at McDonald Jones Stadium.
"By no means does it give them an out - no way," O'Brien said. "Yes, we've got some players missing but we have prepared for quite some time knowing they would not be there and have known who we were going to have in our team. Those guys know their roles, know their job.
"And while we definitely want to keep adding layers to our game as we go, that's not an invitation to be forgetting about our high standards and how we want to play.
"We are up against a tough opposition first up but there'll be no excuses if we don't play well and get the job done."
Without fullback Kalyn Ponga, veteran playmaker Blake Green, winger Edrick Lee and backrower Lachlan Fitzgibbon, the Knights go into the clash having not lost an opening round game at home since 2012. Their winning streak stands at five matches.
Countering that is the club's dismal record against the Bulldogs. The Knights have won just one of the past nine games between the two sides since 2014 and have lost their past five at McDonald Jones Stadium.
"It will be a tough contest," he said. "I think both teams are pretty similar. The spines haven't spent a whole lot of time together but I know there are two tough packs of forwards who will be willing to roll their sleeves up.
"The weather will suit that type of game and we need to come with our hard-working attitude with us."
Despite COVID restrictions still being in place and the threat of rain, club officials are expecting a crowd or around 19,000 for the game which would make it the biggest attendance at the ground since August 2019.
It will also herald the Knights debut of new forward recruits Tyson Frizell and Jesse Sue with enforcer Sue coming up against his old club. Former Knights Kurt Gidley and Tony Butterfield were on hand yesterday to present Frizell and Sue with their jerseys during a team meeting before the side's captain's run at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Adding to the occasion for the club, Origin prop Daniel Saifiti will celebrate his 100th NRL game and will lead the side out as a co-captain alongside hooker Jayden Brailey.
O'Brien believes it will be an emotional occasion for the 24-year-old forward leader and also for Brailey in his first game back following last season's serious knee injury.
"We've seen exactly that - emotion," O'Brien said. "They are highly respected individuals in the team and everyone is emotionally attached to Daniel's 100th game and to have him lead us out is really fitting."
O'Brien said he is also looking forward to seeing what Frizell will bring.
"He is a symbol of Newcastle - he is tough, resilient and hard-working - everything you want in a player," he said.
"He's everything that's been in backrowers at this proud club. You look at Ben Kennedy, Steve Simpson, the Muirs, Pedens - it's Frizell now."
