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Ponga will serve a one-match suspension in round three, opening the door for Hoy to make his NRL debut. The son of former professional surfer Matt Hoy, 20-year-old Tex has long been earmarked as a first-grader.

Knights coach Adam O'Brien earlier this month named Hoy as Ponga's replacement and said on Wednesday he was also in the mix to take on the goalkicking duties.

He said Hoy and five-eighth Kurt Mann had been having regular shootouts at the end of training.

"Kurt has been the one who's stood out a little bit but Tex is holding his end up as well," O'Brien said.

The coach said despite his inexperience Hoy would still take on the role if he was best for it.

"It's certainly a factor that I've thought about," he said. "He's doing enough filling Kalyn's shoes let alone putting the pressure of the goalkicking on him, but at the end of the day if he's the best man for the job I'd rather go up in sixes than fours, so he might have to get used to it pretty quickly."

O'Brien said Ponga had responded well to Hoy's rise and had raised the bar in training.

"KP will obviously have to sit on the sidelines for the first one but he's training as good as I've seen," he said.

"He looks way sharper than before we went on the break so the time away has been good for him."

Meanwhile, Adam Doueihi started his Wests Tigers career in the centres but coach Michael Maguire is ready to see what he's made of at fullback when the NRL season resumes.

The 21-year-old signed a four-year-deal with the Tigers before the season started, but was pushed to the centres in favour of Corey Thompson for the first two rounds.

However, after alternating the pair at fullback, Maguire said he is ready to see what Doueihi brings to the role full-time.

"I'm looking to go towards Adam, Corey has done a great job for us but Adam has really pushed his way into that position as well," Maguire said.

"It's still open but in saying that I want to see where Adam can take us as a fullback.

"That's part of the reason I signed him.

"He's so competitive, he slips on the wing there if we need be so it gives me some good options moving forward."

Tigers utility Josh Reynolds continues to be linked to a return to Canterbury this season. It's believed Reynolds and his management are holding talks with the Bulldogs to bring the cult hero home as the Tigers prepare to play Harry Grant behind the ruck.