Jack Johns, son of club legend Matt, and new recruit Jake Clifford are poised to make their Newcastle NRL debuts on Sunday with injuries, suspension and Origin commitments cutting a swathe through the Knights' squad for the Old Boys' Day clash against Parramatta at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The inclusion of Johns and Clifford are among a raft of changes forced on coach Adam O'Brien after last Sunday's crucial win over Manly.
The Knights go into the Eels' game without their four highest-paid stars - Kalyn Ponga [Origin], Mitchell Pearce [injury], David Klemmer [suspension] and Tyson Frizell [injury] - while Blues prop Daniel Saifiti and injured starting wingers Edrick Lee and Hymel Hunt are also unavailable.
All up, O'Brien will have around $4.2 million worth of talent missing when his side runs out onto McDonald Jones Stadium on a day when the club will celebrate its past players and officials and the 20th anniversary reunion of their 2001 premiership-winning side.
The game will be a massive challenge against an Eels side minus just Origin prop Junior Paulo and smarting after losing their past two matches.
In a pack reshuffle, the Knights will start Jacob Saifiti and Jessie Sue in the front row with Brodie Jones elevated from the bench into the starting side on Frizell's right edge. The backline from the Manly game is intact with Phoenix Crossland and Connor Watson, two of the Knights' best against the Sea Eagles, both retained. New signing Clifford, who flew into Newcastle from Townsville on Sunday after being released by the Cowboys, was named in the No.18 jersey.
Asked if Clifford could force his way into the starting side in the halves, O'Brien said: "We'll see how quickly he connects with the team this week at training."
Kurt Mann, who pulled out of the Manly game on Sunday morning after suffering an injury the previous day during captain's run, has been included on the bench but will need to get through training this week to be retained. The rest of the bench is Johns, Josh King and Simi Sasagi, with Clifford, Jirah Momoisea, Mat Croker and Gehamat Shibasaki named on the extended bench. O'Brien confirmed Johns will definitely debut for the club.
Highlighting the club's depth woes, King is the only recognised prop on the bench. Momoisea has played less than 40 minutes of footy this season after returning on Sunday from a ruptured Achilles while Croker is on a second tier contract.
Klemmer will miss two matches after taking the early plea on a high tackle charge.
