Titans v Knights

Monday, Skilled Park, 7pm

Referee: Steve Lyons

The Titans are on their knees. They have lost three in a row and six of their last seven. Even worse, the losses are starting to become blowouts. They were thrashed 44-4 by Melbourne last weekend and 46-4 by Canberra in the previous round. They have a heap of players out injured or suspended, including stars Scott Prince, Luke Bailey and Mat Rogers.

They have gone from being solid in the top eight halfway through the season to struggling in 11th place. They are only a point outside the top eight, but while other teams are making ground in the race for the finals they are in freefall. The Titans need to knuckle down and be desperate against Newcastle. The Titans haven't got a lot of points in them at the moment and must revolve to work hard in defence and try to force errors, but it is going to be very hard for them to hold out the Knights for 80 minutes.

Newcastle are in good form. They have won three of their past four and the loss was a narrow one on the road against top-four side Cronulla.

They have got key players in form and are playing with plenty of enthusiasm and commitment. It might take them a while to get on top if the Titans regroup and fight hard, but they should take control eventually.