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In the revamped schedule announced on Friday for rounds three and four, the Knights tackle the Panthers on Sunday, May 31, and then Canberra a week later on Sunday, June 7.

Both games will kick off at 4.05pm and, while the venues are to be confirmed, they are expected to be played in Sydney.

In a major boost for Newcastle, Cleary will miss the round-three resumption after his much-publicised sanctions for breaking isolation protocols and misleading the NRL integrity unit.

The NSW Origin playmaker was shown on social media entertaining a handful of female admirers in the home he shares with Panthers teammate Tyrone May.

Initially he was fined $6000 by the NRL for breaking social-distancing regulations, but the penalty was increased to $30,000, plus a two-game ban, when the governing body declared the version of events he presented to the integrity unit was "untruthful".

May was also hit with a $15,000 fine and two-game ban for his role in the attempted cover-up.

Cleary's absence is potentially a huge bonus for the Knights.

The last time Penrith played Newcastle, in the final round of last season, their halfback scored four tries and kicked nine goals from nine attempts in a 54-10 demolition.

His 34-point haul broke two records - the most points scored by a Penrith player in a game, and the most points scored by any individual against the Knights in any game.

In six games against Newcastle, Cleary has five wins to his name and scored 82 points, both of which are career-best statistics.

In the absence of Cleary and former partner James Maloney, who left at the end of last season, Penrith's halves combination against Newcastle is shaping as inexperienced Jarome Luai and Matt Burton. Luai has played in 19 top-grade games, while Burton has made just the lone appearance in the NRL.

Newcastle will be without their own goalkicking game-breaker in fullback Kalyn Ponga, who has pleaded guilty to a grade-one shoulder charge against Wests Tigers in round two and will serve a one-game suspension.

Penrith, Canberra and Newcastle were all undefeated in their first two games before the competition was suspended on March 23 because of the coronavirus crisis.

Knights coach Adam O'Brien said on Thursday he did not care who Newcastle played next, or where, but added that he was eager to learn the day of the game so he could map out his team's preparation.

Asked for his thoughts on Friday, he said the draw was "exciting" because Newcastle were set to take on "two unbeaten teams playing Sunday arvo footy".

Round three of the interrupted season will kick off on Thursday, May 28, with Brisbane to host Parramatta at a Queensland venue to be decided. The remaining 16 regular-season rounds are yet to be released.

The dates for the State of Origin series have been locked in for three consecutive Wednesdays - November 4, 11 and 18 - to be played after the October 25 grand final.