New Zealand international Shaun Kenny-Dowall has been ruled out of the Sydney Roosters' NRL clash with Newcastle on Sunday.

Kenny-Dowall was named this week to make his return from an ankle injury but his comeback has been put on hold.

"Hopefully we get him back next week," halfback Mitchell Pearce told reporters on Friday.

The big Kiwi's most likely replacement in the centres is 2010 grand final player Kane Linnett.

Pearce said the Roosters' season had got to the point of now or never ahead of the Ausgrid Stadium clash with the Knights.

"It's definitely a must-win, " Pearce said.

"We've been saying that for a while but we've definitely got to win.

"If we don't, I think we have to win every game."

The injury-hit Roosters seemed to have turned their season around with an upset win over the Warriors three weeks ago.

But they crashed to Melbourne a week later with both sides missing their State of Origin stars.

Brian Smith's men will this week come off a bye, which Dally M medallist Todd Carney used to find some confidence with NSW Cup side Newtown.

"It was a good couple of days off to freshen up, everyone's pretty upbeat," Pearce said.

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