Talk of a late-season choke for the Warriors was all but buried with last week's 18-12 road win over the Dragons. Back-to-back losses to the Storm and Titans had everyone thinking the Warriors were on the slide, but you don't go and win at a ground you haven't won at for 22 years unless you're serious about your goals and ambitions. Now comes the tricky bit – backing it up with a similarly committed effort against a team they are supposed to beat. The other factor hanging over their heads is their poor home record in 2018. If the Warriors are going to push hard for a top-four spot they simply must win this Friday night clash. The Knights finished strongly against the Tigers last week but gave up too much ground in the first half, but they've proved they can't be taken lightly and will be keen to be a fly in the ointment for top-eight sides over the final four games.

Match: Warriors v Knights Round 22 - F ull T ime Home Team Warriors Scored 20 points Away Team Knights Scored 4 points Venue: Mt Smart Stadium

Key match-up: He has had an up-and-down season but Roger Tuivasa-Sheck turned on his best form in last week's upset of the Dragons. Everyone raved about the strength and smarts he displayed in his try-saving tackle on Tim Lafai, but the magic footwork and swerve were all back and he looked dangerous every time he touched the ball. RTS will be relishing his battle with 20-year-old star Kalyn Ponga. Warriors v Knights - Round 22 For the Warriors to win: Stephen Kearney's confidence in his side surely doubles whenever Issac Luke is in the line-up. Luke returned last week after a brief injury layoff and the Warriors' will to win seems to always be stronger when he plays. The Warriors need to feed off his bursts from dummy-half to keep the Knights on the back foot all night, in addition to an effective kicking game from Shaun Johnson and Blake Green. For the Knights to win: Nathan Brown will be crossing his fingers Mitchell Pearce doesn't succumb to the leg injury that forced him from the field in the second half of last week's loss to the Tigers. Ponga and the rest of the Knights stepped up in Pearce's absence and went close to a comeback win, but their best chance of winning is to have Pearce calling the shots. Warriors Stat Attack: Issac Luke will play his 250th NRL game on Friday against the Knights. Shaun Johnson leads the NRL in field goals (4), while Blake Green is equal leader in 40/20 kicks (2). Knights Stat Attack: Pearce may yet be unable to play but if he does it will be his 250th NRL game. Kalyn Ponga leads the competition in line breaks (128), while Shaun Kenny-Dowall has the equal most intercepts (3). And another thing: Even though they appear headed for the finals and possibly even a top four berth, it's still hard to tell which Warriors side is going to show up from week to week. Their poor 4-5 home record is easily the worst among all top eight teams, but on the flipside their 8-3 road record is the NRL's best. Newcastle have won just four of 11 home games but boast a respectable 4-5 road record.

Match: Warriors v Knights Round 22 - F ull T ime Home Team Warriors Scored 20 points Away Team Knights Scored 4 points Venue: Mt Smart Stadium Team Lists Backs Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 1 Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga

Winger for Warriors is number 2 David Fusitu'a 2 Winger for Knights is number 2 Ken Sio

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Gerard Beale 3 Centre for Knights is number 3 Sione Mata'utia

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Solomone Kata 4 Centre for Knights is number 4 Cory Denniss

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Ken Maumalo 5 Winger for Knights is number 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Blake Green 6 Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Jack Cogger

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson 7 Halfback for Knights is number 7 Mitchell Pearce Forwards Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Gavet 8 Prop for Knights is number 8 Herman Ese'ese

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Issac Luke 9 Hooker for Knights is number 9 Danny Levi

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Agnatius Paasi 10 Prop for Knights is number 10 Daniel Saifiti

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i 11 2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Adam Blair 12 2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Mitchell Barnett

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Simon Mannering 13 Lock for Knights is number 13 Aidan Guerra Interchange Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Jazz Tevaga 14 Interchange for Knights is number 14 Jamie Buhrer

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Leivaha Pulu 15 Interchange for Knights is number 15 Chris Heighington

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Bunty Afoa 16 Interchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami Saulo

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Peta Hiku 17 Interchange for Knights is number 17 JJ Collins