Cronulla Sharks better without Kade Snowden: Paul Gallen

CRONULLA captain Paul Gallen has set the tone for an explosive showdown with former teammate Kade Snowden tomorrow night.

PAUL Gallen has lit the fuse for an explosive showdown with former teammate Kade Snowden tonight, describing the former Test and NSW prop's decision to leave Cronulla as a blessing in disguise.

Snowden sensationally turned his back on the Sharks last season when he abandoned a press conference intended to announce his re-signing with the club before linking with Newcastle and master coach Wayne Bennett.

That loss was compounded by the departure of fellow representative front-rower Luke Douglas, who signed with Gold Coast, leaving Cronulla without their one-two punch up front.

But what initially appeared to be a devastating blow to the Sharks' finals ambitions has turned out to be anything but - with coach Shane Flanagan astutely replacing two high-profile players with Ben Ross, Andrew Fifita, Bryce Gibbs, Jon Green and Mark Taufua.

While Snowden has struggled with form and injury in 2012, his replacements at the shire club have helped propel Cronulla to the edge of the top four with just four matches remaining.

"We couldn't ask for better," Gallen said. "Obviously Snowy and Luke Douglas last year were high profile guys for this club and were going to demand some pretty big money.

"We were obviously really upset when we lost them but it's turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

"Instead of keeping those two we've picked up six. And those six are going really well, guys like Fifita, Bryce Gibbs and Ben Ross."

The Snowden sideshow could play a significant role in the outcome of the match which could secure Cronulla a finals berth.

A victory would lift them to 29 points, three ahead of eighth-placed Wests Tigers, with three rounds to go.

However, Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan knows the top-four hopes and any chance to host a final in week one of Cronulla could end as early as tonight at the end of the F3 Freeway.

While Flanagan remained focused on the Knights, he knows they have a tough run which features competition heavyweights South Sydney, Melbourne and North Queensland.

"Our destiny is in our hands, we just need to make sure at this time of year we enjoy it and play well," Flanagan said.'

"It's massive to make that top four. We need to get this game against Newcastle out of the way, then the next three weeks we play teams in a similar position to us.

"If we beat them, we take points off them and will get us into the top four. But we need to get this (Knights game) one done first.

"We had a tough one last week, there was a real mental preparation involved going over to New Zealand. You need your best players at the important parts of the year, and they're starting to come back for us, which is good."

Cronulla ended a three-match losing streak last weekend by thumping the Warriors. A win tonight will keep them in fifth place, just one point behind fourth-placed Manly.

In a boost for their trip to Newcastle, Cronulla welcome the return of prop Bryce Gibbs and back-rower Wade Graham, who both completed training yesterday.

Gibbs has been one of the Sharks best and sure to lead the way up front in the battle with Snowden.

Should the Sharks triumph, Flanagan did not have to be reminded his team would host a Bunnies side coming off a loss, and with superstar Greg Inglis returning from suspension.

"He was playing well before he got suspended, and the few weeks he's had out will only freshen him up," Flanagan said.

"We're looking forward to the challenge, we played well against them last time, they got as lead on us and we came back at them."