Knights v Rabbitohs: Lillyman to start for Saifiti

Last week's comeback win over a desperate Manly showed the Knights can still compete without injured halfback Mitchell Pearce, but it also highlighted how much responsibility is on Kalyn Ponga's 20-year-old shoulders to keep this team's head above water until Pearce returns.

Most footy followers agree that Ponga is going to be a superstar, and if nothing else it'll be interesting to see how he copes with the added workload and pressure of being Newy's primary playmaker. No-one will be surprised if he handles himself like a veteran.

The Rabbitohs are probably still kicking themselves that they dropped their guard in the second half of last week's 24-20 home loss to Brisbane. The Bunnies should know the competition is far too close to get ahead of yourself and presumably learned a valuable lesson.

We'll find out on Friday if the Bunnies' confidence has been shaken. Anything less than a serious 80-minute effort on the Knights' home turf could be disastrous.

Newcastle Knights v South Sydney Rabbitohs, 6pm Friday at McDonald Jones Stadium

Key match-up: Teammates at the Knights last year, Nathan Ross and Dane Gagai will line up directly opposite each other in Gagai's first game against his former club. The Ross Dog scored the match-winning try in last week's win over Manly and will be excited about facing Gagai but also no doubt wary of his ability to make something from nothing. By the same token, Gagai knows Ross will be looking for any opportunity to bring the home crowd to its feet.

For the Knights to win: Good as Ponga is, Newy are banking on halfback Jack Cogger to guide them around the park and keep the Bunnies on the back foot with an effective kicking game. The same goes for Connor Watson, though he is more a runner than a kicker and will have to play with his usual high energy to keep the Rabbitohs guessing in defence.

For the Rabbitohs to win: After letting one get away against the Broncos, the Bunnies need to prove a point this week. They don't have to alter the game plan from last week, but they certainly need to do a better job of sticking with it. This is a game Souths should win but they won't if they rest on their laurels in the second half again and just expect the opposition to fold.

Knights stat attack: The Knights are seeking a third straight home win for the first time in three years. Last week’s comeback victory over Manly means Newcastle have now equalled their total win tally (5) for 2017.

Rabbitohs stat attack: The Bunnies have had the Knights' measure in recent years, winning their past eight clashes. Fullback Alex Johnston has a great record against Newcastle, scoring 10 tries in their past five meetings.