Under pressure Knights centre Jesse Ramien has narrowly avoided the axe following his shocker against the Sydney Roosters but will need a reversal in form on Friday night against Wests Tigers to hold his place in the squad during the run-in to the finals.
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There was speculation on Monday Ramien would be dumped following his error-riddled performance against the Roosters. But he was again named at right centre for the vital clash with the Tigers by coach Nathan Brown yesterday.
The Newcastle Herald understands Brown seriously considered shifting Sione Mata'utia from the backrow to the centres and leaving Ramien out of the squad altogether but may have changed his mind after a heart-to-heart with his centre.
It now appears highly likely he will be given the chance to redeem himself against the Tigers although there is still scope within the extended squad to make changes to the final 17 during the build up to the game.
As it stands, Brown has named the same 17 who fell in an absolute heap against the Roosters, giving up six tries in 25 minutes at the back end of the game in a humiliating 48-10 defeat last Saturday. The Knights had been right in the contest trailing just 12-10 until the 55th minute when Roosters skipper Boyd Cordner scored, beginning a try avalanche.
For his part, Ramien butchered a first half try, dropping the ball cold with the line open and then gifted rival centre Latrell Mitchell a 90 metre try in the opening minutes of the second half with a misdirected grubber kick. His right edge was also exposed defensively where he was guilty of some lack of effort plays.
It continued a roller-coaster season for the former Shark, who came to the Knights this season after an eye-catching debut season in the NRL but has struggled for any sort of consistency at his new club.
In the 22-year-old's defence, Ramien wasn't the only Knights player to come up well short of expectations against the Roosters, particularly when the defending premiers clicked into gear late in the game.
It's understood Monday's video review session with the coaching staff left several players uncomfortable and squirming in their chairs.
One player not in the firing line and a big chance of coming into the starting side from his selected position on the bench is Connor Watson.
Watson has been arguably the side's best player over the past six weeks and made an instant impact when he was thrown in against the Roosters in the first half at the expense of hooker Danny Levi with the Knights under plenty of pressure.
His pace around the ruck out of dummy half troubled the Roosters a number of times with one first half bust leading to a try. The question is where to play him.
Brown could opt to start him at hooker ahead of Levi against the Tigers, the position where he excelled when Levi was out injured for an extended period.
Or he could play him in the halves alongside Mitchell Pearce, with Kurt Mann still troubled by a sternum injury and not at his best against the Roosters.
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There is also a chance Brown could shuffle his bench late with Jacob Saifiti knocking on the door for a possible recall.
Whatever team Brown comes up with must deliver the goods on Friday.
The Roosters' loss, the side's fourth in their last five games, has left the Knights in desperate need of a win to revitalise their finals hopes.
They currently sit in eighth spot but only a point clear of both the Brisbane Broncos and the Warriors. Brisbane take on the bottom-placed Titans on Saturday on the Gold Coast while the Warriors are away to Parramatta, also on Saturday.
With seven games left, the Knights may need to win at least five to reach the play-offs and face away games against Manly, the Eels and Penrith during the run in.
