Veteran Clint Gutherson is refusing to give up on playing again for St George Illawarra this season, despite a knee injury forcing him to the sidelines a second straight week as the Dragons try to end Canterbury’s finals’ dream.

Gutherson will undergo scans on a knee injury he has ignored most of the year. If he requires surgery he will seek to delay it until after the season, despite the Dragons being out of finals contention for months.

Daniel Atkinson will wear the No. 1 jersey on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium after filling in at fullback for Gutherson against the Wests Tigers on Sunday. Gutherson is a big fan of the former Shark who has been forced to deal with regular criticism following a tough first season in the Red V.

“I hope to be back this year – I’m still waiting to get a scan to see how it is, and from there we’ll suss it out,” Gutherson said.

“I love playing, I want to be out there playing, and I’m doing everything I can to get back.

“If I can’t be there, I’m so glad that ‘Atko’ can be. He always goes after the game. He’s been hard done by this year with what people have said about him – he’s definitely been on the rollercoaster – and I made sure I reached out to him after Sunday’s game to let him know how happy I was for him.

“He put himself in position for that final pass, caught every bomb – the most confidence we’ve had all year has been the last month, and Atko didn’t miss a beat. He was great.”

Backrower Dylan Egan will captain again with Gutherson out and hooker Damien Cook coming off the bench.

Atkinson was seen as a successor to fullback Will Kennedy at Cronulla before he inked a three-year deal with the Dragons. He spent time in the halves most of the year before being dropped to the interchange, only to be a late call-up for Gutherson against the Tigers.

Where Atkinson fits into the squad next year remains a big question, with Luke Metcalf (Warriors) and Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins) recruited. Gun Cowboy Scott Drinkwater will be given first shot at fullback in 2027.

Dragons coach Dean Young said Atkinson did “an incredible job” at late notice against the Tigers. “He only trained there for our main session, then the captain’s run. His preparation to play that role wasn’t great; I couldn’t be happier with him on the weekend.”

A third straight win for the Dragons, who can still avoid the wooden spoon, will end the September hopes of the Dogs.

In other team news, Harry Grant (hamstring) returns for Melbourne against Penrith, who welcome back NSW centre Casey McLean (hand).

Tom Trbojevic (hamstring) returns for Manly away to Newcastle on Saturday, while Latrell Mitchell was named on the extended bench for South Sydney’s match against the Warriors.