Newcastle Knights coach Nathan Brown spoke to the media as the side approaches the final match of the season against the St George Illawarra Dragons this Saturday.
Nathan Ross returns from a one-week suspension while Korbin Sims is fit after he was a late withdrawal last weekend due to illness.
"Rossy is okay to come back in this week... and Korbin will be fit," the coach said on Tuesday.
In other squad news, Will Pearsall continues to recover from a concussion in Round 24, while Akuila Uate is a chance of recovering from an ankle injury.
"Aku has been in a (moon) boot and we will see how he goes after getting out of the boot today," Brown added.
While it is the final match of the season for both sides at Jubilee Oval, there is still plenty to play for on Saturday.
"Both sides aren't playing for a play-off spots... but for our young squad, they are still putting themselves on show and looking to improve for next year,” Brown explained
"That has always been the key for this year.
Results from the back third of the year have proven the young guys are moving in the right direction.
"Obviously we have a long way to go... but the worst part of what we have to go through has gone now and I expect us to improve next year and the year after that.
"That is the progression that we have chosen to take and the one the Club needed to take."
A young player who stood out last week was debutant Dylan Phythian, who will play his second NRL match this weekend.
"Dylan earned the right to stay in the team and we'd hope he'd go out there and improve this weekend," Brown concluded.
