Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien has turned to little-used playmaker Mason Lino to help pilot the Knights to their first finals appearance in seven years following Blake Green's season-ending knee injury.
Lino has been named to make his first NRL appearance of the season at five-eighth to partner Mitchell Pearce in the halves for Saturday's clash against the Warriors in Tamworth.
After playing 12 NRL games for the club last season including the final six rounds under former coach Nathan Brown, Lino had off-season shoulder surgery and hasn't been used at all by O'Brien until now.
But following Green's injury and the coach's preference to keep utility Kurt Mann at hooker, Lino will get his chance to cement a spot in the team for the remainder of the season when he comes up against his former club.
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Aside from his playmaking abilities, Lino seems certain to also assume the goal-kicking duties from fullback Kalyn Ponga.
Lino kicked 33 goals from 39 attempts at a success rate of almost 85 percent in the NRL last season.
Injured prop Daniel Saifiti has been given another week to recover from his knee problem.
Meanwhile, Green will go in for surgery next week to repair the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
