Newcastle are on Josh Dugan alert despite the Canberra ace struggling to overcome an ankle injury ahead of Sunday's vital NRL clash at Ausgrid Stadium.

Dugan was on Tuesday diagnosed with bone bruising in his right ankle, the same ankle which forced him to miss five games earlier this season when he suffered syndesmosis.

The Raiders are playing a waiting game as they sweat on his availability, but Knights coach Rick Stone said he would prepare his side as if Dugan would run out in the No.1.

"Dugan's a real talent and a real strike to their team and the main thing we've got to do is factor in that he is going to play," Stone said.

"If he does play we're ready for him."

Stone said key trio Kurt Gidley (hand), Jarrod Mullen (pectoral) and Adam MacDougall (knee) were all likely starters in a game which could go a long way to clinching a finals berth for the eighth-placed Knights.

"We've probably got to continue to manage those boys, Kurt in particular, not only with his hand, he's got a little tendonitis in his knee as well," Stone said.

"Jarrod will train a little more functionally this week, he'll do some contact at some stage this week again.

"Doogs will definitely get one of our two sessions - whether it be tomorrow or Friday - before I make a decision on him.

"At this stage he's making some noises that he's keen to play."

St George Illawarra received a boost as they bid to arrest a two-game losing streak with the return of veteran hooker Dean Young from a long-standing knee injury for Friday's meeting with Wests Tigers.

Young was named on the bench in the only change for the Dragons, with Mitch Rein and Kyle Stanley expected to be the two players to miss out.

Tigers coach Tim Sheens has again gone with Wade McKinnon on the bench, after he was a late withdrawal ahead of last Friday's win over Manly with a rib complaint.

Former Test centre Josh Morris has regained his spot in Canterbury's NRL line-up after two weeks in the NSW Cup, with rookie Tim Lafai dropped to Toyota Cup heading into Friday night's clash with North Queensland.

The Bulldogs are walking the finals tightrope four points outside the top eight, needing to win all five of their remaining matches to be any chance of playing in September.

Parramatta halfback Jeff Robson has played his last game for the Eels having undergone surgery on Tuesday to repair a fractured cheekbone suffered in Monday night's loss to Melbourne.

Casey McGuire will assume the No.7 for Monday night's match against South Sydney, who welcome back Queensland Origin forward David Taylor following his five-game suspension.

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has reacted to his side's heavy loss to Brisbane by dropping fullback Nathan Gardner to the bench, Isaac Gordon the new man in the No.1 with skipper Paul Gallen returning from a calf complaint to face Gold Coast.

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