Kennedy jnr is keen to see how the first timer goes, but having recently returned to the playing arena himself the mentor may also team up with Tonks in rotation during game two of the Hawkesbury Classic.

"Riley Tonks will make his debut for the Northstars and it'll be exciting to have him out there," Kennedy jnr told the Newcastle Herald. "He may even be partnered up with the coach in the defensive line."

Kennedy jnr said NSW junior representative Tonks was coming off a season in Sweden with Hasselby Kalvesta, playing in under-16 and under-18 competitions.

"I think playing over there has helped his game out, just in terms of the experience and skill development," the 2019 AIHL coach of the year said.

In Sunday's series opener, the Northstars went down 3-2 to the Ice Dogs with an overtime penalty breaking the deadlock at Warners Bay on Sunday.

"They [Sydney] are a skilled team who are patient with the puck so we have to try and keep the play in front of us," Kennedy jnr said.

The Northstars have several of their regular squad members unavailable because of prior commitments with David Ferrari, Shane Southwood, Tim Stanger, Connor Schultz and Jakob Brooks all out of action.

Newcastle players will make their own way to Macquarie Ice Rink rather than catching a bus together, due to recent COVID-19 cases.

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