Newcastle prop David Klemmer has been named to return from a four-match injury spell and start in the front row against St George Illawarra on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Klemmer's inclusion couldn't come at a better time for the injury-ravaged Knights, who have lost their past three matches and dropped to 11th on the ladder after five rounds.
Klemmer hasn't played since sustaining a knee injury in the club's season-opening victory over the Sydney Roosters.
The 28-year-old had arthroscopic surgery more than a week later after pulling out of the Knights' round-two win over Wests Tigers on the day of the match.
The Knights have at times been noticeably lacking punch through the middle in recent games with Klemmer's absence coupled by the loss of Lachlan Fitzgibbon (knee) after round two and Mitchell Barnett (suspension) after round three.
Klemmer told the Newcastle Herald he was confident of taking the field against the Dragons in Wollongong this weekend after rejoining the full squad for training.
"I'll play, I did the day today with them," Klemmer said on Tuesday night.
"I felt really good, really confident and I've done all the right things.
"There's no doubting that I'm right or anything like that."
Knights halfback Adam Clune was also named despite concerns about a knee injury he picked up against the Sea Eagles on Thursday.
But the Knights' head of medical Craig Catterick admitted Clune was no certainty to play against his former club on Sunday.
"He took some friendly fire from 'Randy' [Chris Randall] and he finished the game OK, but he has got a high-grade PCL," Catterick said.
"His knee is a little bit swollen and sore today.
"We will assess that and determine whether he plays or has a week or two off to see if that settles down."
Fan-favourite Edrick Lee is also set to make his long-awaited return to the NRL after being named to play his first NRL game in about 18 months in place of injured winger Dom Young.
Catterick confirmed Young, who suffered a knee injury against Manly, had undergone a similar operation to the one Klemmer did to repair cartilage damage.
He is expected to be out for at least a few weeks.
Jirah Momoisea, who dislocated his left elbow against the Sea Eagles, was not named in the 24-man squad.
Catterick said the club was waiting for swelling in the rookie forward's arm to subside to further assess his injury.
The Dragons, who have lost 12 of their past 13 games, named largely the same side that took to the field in last week's 24-12 loss to South Sydney.
However, George Burgess and Josh McGuire have been named on the bench. McGuire returns from suspension to play his first game of the year.
The Knights and Dragons will be playing for the Alex McKinnon Cup for the eighth time. McKinnon played for both clubs before suffering his career-ending injury while at the Knights in 2014.
Knights starting side
1 Kalyn Ponga (C)
2 Edrick Lee
3 Dane Gagai
4 Bradman Best
5 Enari Tuala
6 Jake Clifford
7 Adam Clune
8 David Klemmer
9 Chris Randall
10 Daniel Saifiti
11 Tyson Frizell
12 Brodie Jones
13 Kurt Mann
Interchange bench
14 Phoenix Crossland
15 Jacob Saifiti
16 Leo Thompson
17 Sauaso Sue
Extended squad
18 Simi Sasagi
19 Pasami Saulo
20 Tex Hoy
21 Jack Johns
22 Jaron Purcell
23 Dylan Lucas
24 Brayden Musgrove
