Guerra: 'This is a must-win game'
Wins are the only thing that will count.
That's the sentiment of nib Newcastle Knights co-captain Aidan Guerra, who believes their season is at a point where matches are a must-win.
"It's a pretty important game for us in the way that our season is going to go," said Guerra.
"It is a perfect time to strike, it's pretty much now or never for us and it doesn't matter who our next three sides are, they're all must win games."
This Saturday the Knights encounter a depleted Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs side.
Despite playmakers Aaron Woods and Moses Mbye moving on and Kieran Foran out for the season, Guerra knows now is no time to take their opposition lightly.
"I don't think we're in any position to take any side for granted, we haven't earnt that right and as a group I don't think we'll be falling for that one," Guerra commented.
"They've made a few changes at their club and they're going to try and hit the ground running.
"They have got some people keen to prove themselves against us, so we can't go in their thinking just because we're favourites we can come away with a victory because that's not how it works in the NRL."
Guerra feels the Dogs will come out with added enthusiasm in a bid to get the club back on track.
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"They'll be trying to impress their coach and to an extent, a lot of our players are still doing that," he said.
"It's going to be a game where there is no lack of effort from either side."
This weekend, the Knights will see a few names back in the mix.
Jacob Lillyman returns from injury, while Jamie Buhrer and Nathan Ross have both been named on the extended bench.
Sam Stone will step in for the suspended Lachlan Fitzgibbon, while returning from the US, Kiwi representatives Slade Griffin and Herman Ese'ese have been named in the starting 13.
"With a bit of cattle coming back it's going to be good for us to build our depth. We were a bit thin there for a while," Guerra stated.
"Even getting KP back from State of Origin, he's hopefully going to grow off that."
Also, anxiously awaiting the return of key halfback Mitchell Pearce.
"This week he has been out on the field with us. He still hasn't done any contact and is a little bit away but just having him at training, running with us, we're already seeing a benefit," he said.
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