It wasn’t the best off-season for either of these clubs nor has it been a good start to the regular season with both sides still looking for their first win of 2014.

Although they’ve been beaten by Panthers, Canberra and last week Storm, the effort by the Knights given their depleted line-up due to injury in these games, has been very commendable.

$250 Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks FREE BET

They were beaten on the buzzer by Canberra a fortnight ago and made the Storm earn their two competition points the hard way. Another injury to Alex McKinnon means another change for the Knights this week but it is the only one. Returning to Hunter Stadium is also a plus as is their record of the Sharks, having won four of the last five with the only defeat coming by a solitary point.

The Sharks also have been a victim of a full casualty ward this year and along with the suspension of star forward Andrew Fifita, haven’t as yet been able to field their strongest line-up.

Five-eighth Todd Carney returned from injury last week and had an immediate and positive impact on the Sharks, given his side some much needed direction that was sorely missing from the previous week that saw them steam-rolled by the Bulldogs 42 – 4.

With Carney backing up from his return last week, and the return of Fifita, the Sharks will consider themselves a good chance of causing an upset here, especially if they are able to reproduce their tough effort from last week that saw them go down narrowly to the in-form Dragons (12 – 14).

Neither side has scored more than 20 points this season and would expect that this too will be a low scoring affair, as the confidence of either team is not running high.

The home-ground and the recent record sway this one in favour of the Knights but expect a game closer then the market would suggest otherwise.

TIP: KNIGHTS 1 – 12

Odds Comparison:

Newcastle Knights	1.48	1.50	1.50	1.50	1.48	1.50
Cronulla Sharks	2.70	2.65	2.65	2.65	2.70	2.65

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Teams:

Newcastle Knights:
Matt Minto, James McManus, Dane Gagai, Joey Leilua, Akuila Uate, Michael Dobson, Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Kurt Gidley (c), Wille Mason, Beau Scott, Robbie Rochow, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Adam Clydsdale, Korbin Sims, David Fa’alogo, Adam Cuthbertson
Ins: Korbin Sims
Outs: Alex McKinnon (fractured neck, season)
Other unavailables: Darius Boyd (hamstring, round five), Jarrod Mullen (hamstring, round 10), Clint Newton (bicep, season), Timana Tahu (knee, round 10)

Cronulla Sharks:
Michael Gordon, Nathan Stapleton, Blake Ayshford, Ricky Leutele, Jonathan Wright, Todd Carney, Daniel Holdsworth, Andrew Fifita, John Morris, Sam Tagataese, Matt Prior, Wade Graham (c), Chris Heighington. Interchange: Isaac De Gois, Tinirau Arona, Bryce Gibbs, Siosaia Vave, Tupou Sopoaga
Ins: Nathan Stapleton, Andrew Fifita
Outs: Sosaia Feki (knee, round eight)
Other unavailables: Paul Gallen (ankle, round seven), Luke Lewis (shoulder/radiation treatment, round seven), Anthony Tupou (knee, mid-season), Jeff Robson (facial fractures, indefinite), Beau Ryan (neck, indefinite)