Rugby League Coaching Manuals

"Shannon McDonnell trained strongly today and is going to take his place in the team," Knights coach Rick Stone said.

"We're going to be one to 17, which will be terrific."

McDonnell has played 12 NRL games this year but spent two months mid-season with Newcastle's feeder team, the Central Coast Centurions.

Since he was reinstated in round 21 against Manly, the Knights have won three of four games and NSW fullback Kurt Gidley has settled with Jarrod Mullen in the halves.

"He's been playing well," Stone said.

"Since Kurt and Mullo have gone to halfback it's been a significant change to our team at the back end of the year.

"Shannon's been a good foil for those two blokes at the back and his support play in particular is one area that we've really derived some benefit from."

The news from Wollongong was not so positive when representative forwards Michael Weyman, Ben Creagh and Beau Scott failed to train yesterday.

Weyman is battling hamstring soreness, Creagh illness and Scott is in severe doubt of missing his second consecutive match with lower back and leg problems.

St George Illawarra captain Ben Hornby remained confident about Weyman and Creagh playing against the Knights but Scott was given a slim chance of taking his place.

"Beau is struggling a bit at the moment, he'll be given until [today]," Hornby said.

"But we did without him last week, so I'm sure the blokes will come out and do a good job."

Utility second-rower or centre Nick Emmett is on stand-by for Scott.

Scott and Jeremy Smith were ruled out of last weekend's loss to Canberra.

Smith will line up against Newcastle, despite training with a knee-length rehabilitative sock covering his calf yesterday.

Veteran hooker Luke Priddis will drop off an extended bench tonight.

Stone has reminded his players to stay composed tonight, admitting they can become "a bit frantic" in high-stakes games.

He said he was confident referee Shayne Hayne would intervene if the Dragons attempted to stymie Newcastle's razzle-dazzle attack with wrestling tactics.

"Shayne Hayne is a fairly senior referee and he's done a pretty good job most times he's refereed us, I'd suggest," Stone said.

"I think our footy is at its best when we play a free-flowing game and given the right conditions tomorrow night I think you'll see some of that as well."

The Dragons can wrap up their second successive minor premiership by winning tonight's match, which is expected to be a sell-out.

Chasing their sixth successive home win - and hoping to keep their finals dream alive - the Knights reported late yesterday that only 670 tickets were available for the game, which will serve as the farewell for retired club great Steve Simpson.