Second place, and with it a home match in the opening week of the finals, is on the line for the Sharks this Sunday, while the Knights will be keen to avoid finishing their season with four-straight defeats.
Cronulla moved into second last week with their win over the Bulldogs, coupled with the Cowboys losing, and will be keen to ensure they return to PointsBet Stadium for the finals, with 10 wins from 11 games there in 2022.
The Knights couldn't foot it with the Titans in a high-scoring match last week but will be desperate to finish on a high at home and give their fans something to smile about.
When these two sides met earlier this year the Sharks shut the Knights out 18-0.
Sportsbet Betting preview: Knights v Sharks
The Rundown
Team news
Knights: No further changes on Sunday ahead of kick-off. Skipper Jayden Brailey has dropped out on Saturday, his place taken by Chris Randall. Centre Krystian Mapapalangi is also out, replaced by Enari Tuala in jersey No.20. Simi Sasagi has joined the bench. Anthony Milford is out with a rib injury so Phoenix Crossland starts at five-eighth. Mat Croker moves into the starting side with Sauaso Sue dropping out.
Sharks: Dale Finucane dropped off the reserves list on Saturday and will be given another week to recover from the rib cartilage issue that sidelined him last week. Luke Metcalf has been added to the bench and Braydon Trindall is out. Connor Tracey (concussion) will be rested until the finals. Winger Matt Ikuvalu is back from a groin strain so Kayal Iro drops out. There were no further changes an hour out from kick-off.
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Key match-up
Chris Randall v Blayke Brailey: The Brailey brothers were poised to clash for just the third time in their careers at NRL level with Jayden holding a 2-0 advantage over his younger sibling but the Knights skipper's late withdrawal sees Chris Randall enter the fray. The Sharks No.9 leads the NRL in tackles made this year, averaging 42.6 per game, while Randall lines up for his 17th game of the season and his first since Round 17. The hard-working 26-year-old gets through 40 tackles a game himself so the middle will be well guarded by the two No.9s in this match.
Stat Attack
Only the Roosters average more tackle breaks per game than the Sharks' 35.2. That stat could be a problem for the Knights who as it is average 31.6 missed tackles per game in 2022.
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