Sharks confident without Phil Bailey

The Sharks face another test of their premiership credentials this weekend when they travel to Newcastle to take on the Knights in a match scheduled for 5.30pm on Saturday night.

After seven wins in their last eight games, the Sharks will arrive at Energy Australia Stadium full of confidence after scoring a solid victory over the Manly Sea Eagles last week.

However they are likely to run into a Newcastle side fired up and ready to make amends after copping plenty of criticism for their below-par performance against the Warriors last weekend.

The Sharks will be strengthened by the return of Adam Dykes from injury, with Brett Kearney, who has been outstanding since stepping in to fill the void, moving back to the interchange bench.

The confrontation between Dykes, Sharks skipper Brett Kimmorley and Knights playmaker Andrew Johns, will be a highlight of the contest.

Other than the loss of Phil Bailey, who will be missing for up to eight weeks with a cheekbone fracture, the Sharks will field an unchanged line-up for the Newcastle clash.

The match is set down for a 5.30pm kickoff, with referee Ben Cummins assigned to control the game.