Canberra enters the clash in the Hunter Valley as the hottest favourites of the round despite the loss of Josh Papalii, who was stood down by the club.

They face a Newcastle side that rank 18th in points allowed and 18th in points scored. Generally, and this case is no different when you sit at the foot of the table in those two categories, you won't win too many games.

Trent Hodkinson is an outside chance to return for the Knights after being named on an extended bench while Sia Soliola takes the place of Papalii in the second row.

The green machine currently sit in 10th place on the NRL ladder and are in desperate need of a win in order to stay in touch with the top eight. Their 1-3 away record isn't promising, however against a Knights side struggling to gel at either end of the park, they should have a little too much polish to get past the strugglers.

Raiders by 16.