Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan is set to blood son Kyle as his side's top four hopes go on the line in Sunday's NRL clash with Newcastle.
The highly-rated 19-year-old halfback is expected to come into the Sharks' side at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
He was left out of feeder side Newtown's NSW Cup win over the Western Magpies and was included in the Sharks' 19-man squad after it was cut down on Saturday afternoon.
It's unclear exactly where he will slot into the team, either in the starting 13 or on the bench.
However he and his dad will form the first father-son coach-player partnership since Martin and John Lang at Penrith in 2004.
Kyle put himself on the rugby league world's radar after last year shattering the under-20s competition pointscoring record with 20 tries and 140 goals in 26 games.
Shane has previously said he would have no hesitation throwing Kyle into first-grade and looks set to give him his first taste of the NRL just two weeks out from the finals.
Knights coach Nathan Brown confirmed the news, saying they'd been tipped off Kyle was set to play.
"He's one of the more talented halves coming through the competition," Brown told Triple M NRL.
"We were aware he was playing, the word generally travels, all the people that punt on rugby league these days.
"As far as the under-20s kids goes, he's in the top echelon of the halves coming through.
"Most of us in the game expected him to make his debut at some stage this year, it was just a matter of when and his dad has thought this was the right time."
The Sharks have a chance to jump into the top four for the first time since round 12 should they beat the Knights and the St George Illawarra-Canterbury result go their way.
After the Panthers' thumping loss to the Warriors on Friday, the Sharks are in fifth, equal with the fourth-placed Dragons on 30 points but needing to make up a 17-point for-and-against differential.
"Any team in that top eight is going to cause some damage," Flanagan said when asked about the importance of the top four.
"The next couple of weeks you need to get through without any injuries and play some good football so you don't limp into the semis.
"Without a doubt any team on their day can win that competition. For me if you get two bites at the cherry, it's definitely an advantage."
STATS THAT MATTER
* The Knights will be aiming for their 10th victory of the season, which will be their biggest win tally since 2014.
* Valentine Holmes requires one try become the highest ever Sharks try scorer in a season.
Source: Fox Sports Stats
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