St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett has conceded he is about to be confronted with the toughest decisions of his time at the club in the run into the NRL finals series.
The Dragons are a step closer to their first minor premiership as a joint venture club following Friday night's hard-fought 25-6 win over Penrith.
With New Zealand international lock Jeremy Smith starring with a two-try performance in his first games since round eight, Bennett is set to face a number of issues at the selection table as he attempts to maintain the Dragons' form.
Full coverage of The St George Illawarra DragonsSt George Illawarra will chase a club record equalling eighth straight victory against Canberra in the nation's capital on Saturday.
Bennett revealed he will have to balance giving players opportunities in the final four rounds with maintaining the successful formula which has sent them hurtling to the top of the ladder.
"I've got to get the mix right and the balance of the team, that will be over the next couple of weeks," Bennett said.
"I'll rotate them around and give them some opportunities, (to) make sure there's a confidence about the team and a structure.
"(I'm) not going to change enormously, but just one or two players that have played well.
"We'll give them an opportunity because we're going to need them. We're not going to get through with just 17 players who have played (against the Panthers)."
With Smith back, Bennett has a number of options in the forward pack available to him, with Jarrod Saffy, Dean Young, Nathan Fien, Matt Prior and Neville Costigan all fit.
Young said his role in the team hadn't changed following Smith's return.
"My role doesn't change much," he said. "I've been starting at hooker most weeks and going back to lock.
"Jeremy Smith can play lock and tonight he played front row.
"We played in the middle of the ruck together and it seemed to work all right. It was great to have (Smith) back, that's for sure.
"He's won a grand final and he's been to three, he's a tough player."
Adding another element to the mix for the Dragons, Kiwi winger Jason Nightingale, who has spent time in the forwards this season, is set to return from a broken hand in the next fortnight.
Meanwhile, Wests Tigers stepped into the top eight for the first time in three months with a 17-10 win over the Roosters at Sydney Football Stadium yesterday.
It was the Tigers' fifth straight-win and, while they're now in a position to decide their own finals fate, coach Tim Sheens insists they're not looking at the overall picture just yet.
"(Fate) has always been in our own hands," he said.
"We're not worrying about who is winning around us or who is losing, it's just a matter of if we keep winning then we look up at the end of the season (and) maybe we're in a good position."
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