![Eels forwards Manu Ma'u and David Gower will be key to their side's fortunes in the coming weeks.](/siteassets/2016/05/45880_39_1.jpg?center=0.25%2C0.47&preset=hero-primary-wide)
Heartened by the Eels' resilience of late, club captain Tim Mannah and veteran forward David Gower want their performances to do the talking starting against the Newcastle Knights on Monday night.
Parramatta's season has been littered with indiscretions and long-term Eel Mannah is hoping the positive space they've created at training will translate to results on the field.
The Eels have lost their past two games since the club's salary cap punishment was handed down but it won't hinder the spirit of the playing group according to Mannah.
"We have been really resilient as a playing group and coaching staff. I've been really encouraged to see how this group have responded to a lot of adversity this year and it definitely makes you proud to be associated with this team here," Mannah said.
"We have definitely had the spotlight on us but we have to make sure we're just playing good footy. Our safe place is on the field, that's where we get to do what we're paid to do."
Gower backed Mannah's assertion and said the pride to win among the Eels' 17 will put them on the right path.
A loss against Newcastle will all but spell the end of the Eels' slim finals hopes but Gower wasn't placing any greater importance on the particular fixture.
"We're all proud men and we know a couple of losses back-to-back, especially at home, is not what our fans want and not what we want," Gower told NRL.com.
"So we're doing everything we can in our power to rectify the issues that we're having on the field and make sure we don't continue to make the same errors and mistakes."
Gower was also wary of the cellar-dwelling Knights who will be out to reverse a lengthy losing streak of their own.
"They're going to be as equally as desperate as us. They want to win and they want to perform for their fans. They have had a couple of tough losses and they will we want to atone for them," Gower said.
"But in saying that we have had a couple of tough losses too and we're pretty keen to put our foot forward again and put in a good performance."