It's the selection headache every Coach loves to have...sort of.
While nobody would be at all pleased at losing their first choice hooker so early in the season, the depth the Knights currently have in the dummy-half area will leave Adam O'Brien with plenty to be happy about.
Two players are vying for the No.9 jersey following Jayden Brailey's season-ending knee injury, last year's incumbent Connor Watson and rookie Chris Randall.
AOB: Managing loads, No.9 fix and NRL return
At first glance, Watson seems the obvious choice, however Randall shapes as a serious chance of nabbing a starting spot.
"I think both him (Watson) and Chris Randall will spend some time there," O'Brien said.
"I'm not sold on which one will start, they'll both spend some time there."
The decision will be far from an easy one.
Watson impressed many with his stints at dummy-half last season, however the utility has been in red-hot form since shifting to a roaming middle role off the bench this season.
Randall is also an out-and-out hooker who has been incredibly consistent over the last two seasons in Canterbury Cup.
However, with three weeks still to go before he needs to name a team, O'Brien insists he won't be rushed into making a call.
"I've got options there (at No.9), I just want to use these next couple of weeks to see what's the best fit for the team," he said.
"I don't want to make too many changes to the team, so if I can go like-for-like with a nine that's what I'll do."
No matter who ends up as his No.9, O'Brien has his sights set on keeping his team at the pointy end of the ladder come May 28 and beyond.
"We're still not where we need to be, in round two I saw some stuff we need to improve on which we'll address over the next couple of weeks," he said.
"I want us to be a consistent, tough footy team every week.
"If we're training hard, preparing well and putting up a real good fight on the weekends, I know it's a clichè, but the results will take care themselves."
