Newcastle coach Rick Stone looks set to play boom youngster Sione Mata'utia at centre this season, with Joey Leilua struggling to hold his position in the NRL side.
Mata'utia became Australia's youngest ever Test player during last season's Four Nations.
He played on the wing for the Kangaroos, but has been named in the centres alongside Dane Gagai for the Knights' final trial against Canberra at Seiffert Oval on Saturday.
James McManus (ankle) and Akuila Uate (knee) return from injuries to the wing for their first hit outs of the year.
Captain Kurt Gidley will slot into fullback, also for his first game of 2015, with Adam Clydsdale to play hooker.
Leilua has been named on a nine-man bench but appears to have fallen behind Mata'utia and Gagai in the pecking order.
Leilua was a key figure in the Knights' charge to the preliminary final in 2013, but struggled to consistently replicate that form last year.
Stone indicated he could make a move to the back-row.
"Sione has probably earned the right at the moment," he said.
"Joey and Gags are obviously terrific players and all three of those blokes are going to play some major time on Saturday.
"There's no doubt Joey can be an impact player. Whether he's going to play in the back row, I'm not quite sure.
"The purpose that he carries and the intent and how damaging his carries are, he's going to be a valuable player whenever he gets on the field."
Local junior Tyler Randell, who made his NRL debut late last year, could provide valuable utility off the bench for the Knights throughout 2015, especially for Clydsdale.
"I think we need to get our bench organised and Tyler Randell gets his chance there," Stone said.
"His form in the pre-season has been really good and he's trained pretty well."
Knights: Kurt Gidley (capt), James McManus, Dane Gagai, Sione Mata'utia, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Adam Clydsdale, Korbin Sims, Beau Scott, Robbie Rochow, Jeremy Smith.
Interchange: Tyler Randell, Chris Houston, David Fa'alogo, Jack Stockwell, Joey Leilua, Chanel Mata'utia, Jake Mamo, Joseph Tapine, Clint Newton.
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