Just one more game.

That's all St George Illawarra need to navigate before they can get their NRL season fully back on track and restart their charge towards a third consecutive minor premiership - and a bid to become the first team since Brisbane in 1993 to win back-to-back titles.

Since their 30-0 thrashing of Parramatta in round eight, the day eight of their stars were selected in Australia, New Zealand, City Origin or Country Origin squads, the Dragons have bravely fought to a record of three wins, two losses and a draw.

It's the period of the year Wayne Bennett has hated as long as he has coached - with his champion Brisbane Broncos teams decimated in the middle third of every season during his tenure.

But all that comes to an end on Sunday against Newcastle in Wollongong - their last match without their heavy representative contingent.

One of the club's unknown qualities who have filled in for the likes of Ben Creagh and Beau Scott during the State of Origin period is prop David Gower.

"We had a couple of bad weeks but now we're back on track," Gower said.

"Obviously we've got a changed lineup this week but I think if we can continue the work the boys did on Monday night (a 24-6 win over Manly) ... the minor premiership might take care of itself."

In a cruel twist, Gower's spot in the team is in jeopardy due to NSW coach Ricky Stuart releasing young prop Trent Merrin for the clash - with Gower now in a dogfight with Jack Bosden, Jake Marketo and Jack De Belin for the final bench spot.

But regardless of his eventual involvement in the clash, Gower insists every player - veteran or rookie - knows exactly what is required against a Newcastle outfit who have been posting impressive wins without key attacking duo Kurt Gidley and Jarrod Mullen.

"The Knights are going pretty good themselves so it's going to be a tough game for us," Gower said.

"...Wayne and (assistant coach Steve Price) let us know what we need to doto not let the good work that the boys did on Monday go to waste.

"This is the tough period for the year, everybody's said it, we've got a lot of players out, a lot of changes so if we can do a job for those guys during Origin and make sure we're not letting them down, by winning, it's going to be a lot better for us in the back end of the year definitely."

The Knights have ruled out a surprise return from Mullen, who remains sidelined with a pectoral muscle injury.

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