Catalans Dragons have been boosted by the return of former Australian and NSW forward Greg Bird for Saturday's dreaded 'Million Pound Game' against Leigh in Manchester.
Bird succeeded in having a four-match ban cut to three, while Leigh club captain Micky Higham is set to return, alongside Samisoni Langi, Mitch Brown and Cory Paterson, after a three-match absence with a virus.
Former England coach Steve McNamara, who took over at the Dragons just three months ago, is hoping chairman and founder Bernard Guasch will stick by the club in the event of relegation.
"I've not spoken to Bernard about what he'll do if we lose," McNamara said. "However, he's been a massive and proud supporter of the club, even before it came into Super League."
Twelve months ago, Keiron Cunningham was preparing St Helens for a semi-final.
The former Wales and Great Britain hooker became Leigh head coach after his sacking by Saints, only to find himself involved in the Million Pound Game.
Tony Smith likened the game to a "train smash" after guiding Warrington to safety while, this time last year, former England captain Jamie Peacock described it as a "car crash" as he prepared to play in it for Hull KR against Salford.
"I've never been involved in this part of the game," Cunningham said.
"It's the coliseum, isn't it? Somebody dies and somebody survives - it's as simple as that.
"It's a great spectator event but it's not good for your players."
Cunningham knows his newly signed three-year contract will be honoured. Owner Derek Beaumont pledged to keep the Centurions full-time in the event of relegation to the Championship.
"I feel sorry - if that's the right word - for Catalans to be in a position where they are potentially 80 minutes away from being relegated when they finished 10th in a 12-team competition, Beaumonh said.
"It just seems madness that that could actually be the case. It's not the weakest team that gets relegated."
Beaumont wants 13 or 14 Super League teams but that will come too late for Saturday's losers.
"Obviously, I want to see us survive ahead of them but, personally, I genuinely wouldn't want to see Catalans out of Super League if they are relegated (for the first time in their 12-year history)," Beaumont said.
"I think Catalans are good for the game.
"You hear tales about how things are over there and it looks a little bit panicky. The staff are saying to the players 'you've got to win because, if you don't, we're losing our jobs'. It's not nice."
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