Knights officials are doing everything bar putting their players in complete lock-down in a bid to prevent the coronavirus impacting the squad as they prepare for Sunday's clash against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.
Strict protocols have been put in place to restrict, as much as possible, any interaction between players and the general public with the NRL pushing to play all round two matches this weekend despite many sporting organisations worldwide suspending their competitions.
Knights CEO Phil Gardner said everything that can be done to protect the health of the players is being done.
"Our medical team is doing that, we are getting the best possible advice," he said. "There is an isolation process in place and we are making sure that our top 36 players are as isolated as they can be. The best result for us is no-one in that top 36 contracts coronavirus until October and that's what every club is aiming for."
Asked to what extremes the Knights are going to prevent players being infected, Gardner said:
"Well, it's not communist Russia so we can't lock them up," he said. "But we can advise them strongly on the right procedures around taking every possible precaution they can to reduce social contact as much as possible and avoid going where there are sizeable groups of people."
Gardner said it was in the players' best interests to isolate themselves as much as humanly possible.
"The players know they are in this with us," he said. "If we don't play, there are substantial issues around being paid so we have to make sure we are doing the best we can to ensure no-one gets it so that we can get through the season. From our perspective, we have got to have the NRL go ahead.
"It's really important to everyone in the game. Without games, there is no employment in rugby league, not just for the players but for everyone that has a close association with it. So that's what we are focused on - keeping the NRL going. We just have to do the best we can and take the decisions we have to take and get on with it until such time as we are told otherwise."
The Knights are currently investigating their travel options for the Tigers clash.
Normally, the squad goes down the day before Sydney games and stays in a hotel overnight. While that is still the likely scenaro on Saturday, traveling down on game day to avoid all contract with hotel staff and patrons has been discussed.
"All options are still open as far as travelling down on the day or whether we travel down the day before and stay in a hotel," Gardner said. "Like I've said, for us, it's about isolating the players as much as we can to ensure we can play first and foremost."
Meanwhile, backrower Sione Mata'utia has been named on an extended bench for the Tigers clash after missing the opening round win over the Warriors with a knee injury. But he's racing the clock and at this stage, appears only an outside chance of playing.
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