St George Illawarra Dragons players have been told to step up against the NZ Warriors on Saturday or face being dropped from the team.
Both teams are in must-win mode, after losing their opening two games, before the season was shut down by coronavirus.
While it seems crazy that teams are in must-win mode after only two games, the revised draw means less games and less margin for error.
The losers of Saturday afternoon's clash at Central Coast Stadium will have an 0-3 record and face even more pressure to make the top eight.
Dragons coach Pau McGregor is already on the hot seat, has made some big changes, with hooker Issac Luke and centre Tim Lafai omitted from the squad to face the Warriors, while 2010 Grand Final winner Trent Merrin is demoted to the extended bench.
But according to prop Josh Kerr, no-one is guaranteed selection, regardless of experience, age or reputation. Play bad and you're out.
"Anyone's not really safe is what Mary [McGregor] was saying, the way he put it," says Kerr.
"[In the past] he has shown a bit more faith towards those boys that have done all the hard work before, in terms of they've earned it.
"If one of the older boys, more experienced boys, has not had the best game, he'd give them another chance next week, because he knows they've done it before."
While the Dragons dominate the head-to-head record against the Warriors, they have lost the last three, including last year's classic, where the Kiwi side overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to win 26-18 at Suncorp Stadium, as part of the NRL's 'Magic Round'.
