With the Sharks coming through the representative rounds unscathed the omission of Jayson Bukuya due to his one week suspension is the only alteration to the team which beat the Broncos at their last start.
Bukuya was suspended for one week after pleading guilty to a shoulder charge on Ben Hunt late in the Broncos match, with the Sharks to miss his footwork and energy in both attack and defence in what is a crucial game to be played at Hunter Stadium on Sunday.
In the only other changes to the Sharks team Gerard Beale, after a strong outing for the Kiwis in the Trans Tasman Test last weekend, returns to the starting side in place of Ricky Leutele, while after coming off the bench in the last two matches, Luke Lewis has also been recalled into the run-on team.
Beale will partner Sosaia Feki on the Sharks left hand side, with Lewis on the right edge.
With Bukuya missing from the 17 Coach Shane Flanagan has hedged his bets somewhat, naming both Joseph Paulo and David Fifita on an extended interchange bench with a decision as to who plays on Sunday likely to be delayed until closer to game day.
Otherwise the majority of the Sharks squad are well rested after being given a three-day weekend by Flanagan, while the rep round players returned to training today ahead of Sunday’s game.
The Sharks v Knights match is scheduled to kick off at 2.00pm on Sunday at Hunter Stadium.
NRL TEAM LIST – Round 10
Sharks v Knights
Sunday, May 15
Hunter Stadium
Kick-off 2.00pm
1 Ben Barba
2 Sosaia Feki
3 Jack Bird
4 Gerard Beale
5 Valentine Holmes
6 James Maloney
7 Chad Townsend
8 Andrew Fifita
9 Michael Ennis
10 Sam Tagataese
11 Luke Lewis
12 Wade Graham
13 Paul Gallen
Interchange
14 Ricky Leutele
15 Chris Heighington
16 Matt Prior
17 Joseph Paulo
23 David Fifita
