Maitland will be without Jacob Sinclair again after the forward was unable to recover from an ankle injury sustained at training last Thursday.
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Pickers coach Trevor Ott said Sinclair was extremely frustrated at his delayed start to his return to the team, after two years overseas.
Ott has named an extended squad including Knights linked players Toby Evans, Liam Faughlin, Rob Mason, Jayden Rosberg and Cameron King in the team.
Hooker Kurt Aldridge has been named for the Knights NSW Cup team but Fauglin’s availability will be confirmed on Thursday.
Ott said the Knights aligned players were a tremendous part of the team, but with a young side it was taking time for players to get to know each other’s game.
“We have access to the Knights boys on Thursday night and they train with the rest of the squad for 90 minutes. You can see that lack of time together in our consistency,” he said.
“There have been glimpses, but just not over a long period,” Ott said.
“The last 10 minutes against Kurri we played some really good footy, we started chancing our arm a bit in attack and scored a couple of tries … before that we turned the ball over three times coming off our own line.
“The start of the Lakes game was the same, we defended three sets and then went down the other end and scored two tries, but we weren’t able to sustain it.
“That’s where we need to improve, it’s that consistency.
“I really think once we get that first win it will begin to click. We just can’t afford to leave that first win too late.”
Ott said one of the real positives to come out so far was that the team had shown a real fighting quality.
“They haven’t turned up their toes, they have kept trying. We just need to eliminate the errors which have been costing us in attacking positions and put too much pressure on our defence with repeat sets,” he said.
“Not singling anyone out but last week against Kurri when we failed to find touch from a penalty it really turned things around.
“We went from potentially being in an attacking position in their half with six tackles, to the ball being turned over in our half and they scored from the set.”
Ott said the challenge of facing Newcastle Rugby League heavyweights Western Suburbs at Maitland Sportsground on Saturday was just the challenge his team needed.
“There’s no easy game in this competition, but Wests are always strong and are leading again this season,” Ott said.
Kick off in Saturday’s main game is at 3pm.
