Newcastle plays host to the Raiders on Sunday afternoon in a match-up that is already shaping up to be reminiscent of when the two sides met in August last season.
A near full strength Raiders got the six-point win at McDonald Jones Stadium, but it wasn't without a scare as the Knights - without majority of their starting 13 - skipped to a 22-8 half-time lead.
Canberra's class got them home in the end and the same appears to be set up again with Newcastle struggling early with a growing injury toll.
The Knights are desperate to correct a shocking home ground record in recent times but did themselves no favours with a 16-point loss to the Dolphins in front of over 20,000 fans last week.
It will feel like a homecoming for several players in the Raiders line-up with Joseph Tapine, Tom Starling, Pasami Saulo, Hudson Young and Zac Woolford all playing for the Knights either in the NRL or lower grades previously.
The Raiders hold a 21-20 head-to-head lead over the Knights since 1998 - a record the Green Machine have reeled back in the past decade after Newcastle held a dominance in the early days.
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Team news
Knights: The Knights have rejigged their team an hour out from kick-off, with Tyson Frizell (ankle) named to start as a late inclusion. Brodie Jones moves to the bench. Prop Daniel Saifiti has been named overcoming a shoulder injury suffered last week. Hooker Jayden Brailey returns from a head knock. Greg Marzhew makes his club debut, taking over on the wing from Dom Young who was relegated to NSW Cup. Leo Thompson moves from lock to prop and Jack Hetherington goes to the bench. Utility Kurt Mann is back from a shoulder injury at lock. Last week's debutant Dylan Lucas is 18th man.
Raiders: Prop Josh Papali'i has recovered from a calf injury and lines up for his first game of the year, so Emre Guler goes to the bench and Trey Mooney drops out. Matt Frawley comes in for Jamal Fogarty, who is out with a virus, in the halves. Zac Woolford replaces Danny Levi (broken jaw) in the starting line-up with the Samoan hooker facing an extended stint on the sidelines. Brad Schneider is the replacement player. Semi Valemei, Peter Hola and Mooney were omitted on Saturday when the squad was cut to 19.
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Stat Attack
- The Knights have won only one of their past 12 games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
- The Raiders have lost their past three away games.
- Knights winger Dominic Young has scored 12 tries in his past 11 games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
- Raiders second-rower Hudson Young has scored a try in his past three games against the Knights.
- Knights centre Bradman Best has scored three tries in three games against the Raiders.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.