TOWERING Knights prop Daniel Saifiti will be sweating on the results of scans after re-injuring his left knee in Sunday's 26-24 win against Manly at McDonald Jones Stadium.
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Saifiti returned to action after four weeks on the sidelines but limped off in the 25th minute and played no further part in the match.
The NSW Origin representative emerged during the half-time break with his knee heavily strapped for a series of agility drills with Newcastle's training staff.
But coach Adam O'Brien opted against risking the man they call "D-Saf".
"The medical staff were OK for him after half-time - having warmed it up - to put him back on," O'Brien said.
"But I wanted to take the long-game mentality with him and make sure he's OK."
I wanted to take the long-game mentality with him and make sure he's OK.
- ADAM O'BRIEN
Saifiti said his knee felt "a bit tight" after the game but was optimistic that he would be cleared to play against North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday.
"I'm not 100 per cent, but hopefully I'm more likely to play than not play," he told the Newcastle Herald.
"If it was like a do-or-die game, I would have gone back out there.
"But they just didn't want to risk me going back and maybe doing it again, and then missing another couple of weeks.
"The boys got the job done anyway, so it paid off."
Saifiti admitted it was a frustrating setback.
"The knee felt 100 per cent before the game," he said. "Obviously we'll know more after the scans tomorrow."
Saifiti was replaced against Manly by his twin sibling Jacob, who continued his impressive form by racking up 113 attacking metres in 39 minutes. Jacob has now carried the ball more than 100 metres in 12 of Newcastle's 14 games this season.
"I haven't been massively surprised by how he's playing," Daniel said.
"His pre-season, the way he trained, it was always going to happen. His best game and his worst game this year haven't been far apart. He deserves all the accolades he's been getting.
"He's killing it, and it's all off his hard work."
The win against Manly was another step towards Daniel's dream of playing in the NRL finals.
"We knew they had a few players out, but that they'd be fighting to stay in touch with the top eight," Saifiti said.
"So to get a gritty win like that - even though they probably scored a few too many points - it's good for the confidence."
