Knights enforcer Mitch Barnett has thrown down the gauntlet to teammate Connor Watson, declaring he won't be giving up the No.13 jersey to the utility star next season without a fight.
Knights coach Adam O'Brien has spoken to Watson about potentially giving him a shot at the lock forward's role as he looks to revamp his side's attack in response to the new rules the NRL brought in last season.
The six-again rule has opened up the game and with less scrums set to be the norm in 2021 and lead to more fatigue in defensive lines, O'Brien believes Watson's pace and sniping ability against tiring forwards will make him a potent threat around the ruck.
Watson is open to the prospect of shedding his bench utility role for a more permanent starting spot in the Knights forward pack.
But with Kangaroos star Tyson Frizell having a mortgage on the right edge backrow position, that would leave Barnett and Lachlan Fitzgibbon to fight it out for the other backrow spot if Watson takes the lock spot.
Asked about the Watson threat, Barnett said: "There is a lot of competition that's for sure.
"Connor's doing rehab at the moment and in terms of the make-up of the side, we don't know what that is yet.
"But I'll be competing my hardest like I do every year and if Connor wants that 13 jersey, he'll have to come see me.
"It's good competition. It's very exciting and honestly, I can't wait to see Connor get back on the field. He's had hard luck with injury and it will be good to see him healthy."
Barnett, who only started pre-season training late last week after off-season elbow surgery, said the decision on where he plays will ultimately fall to the coach.
"I'm doing a little bit of middle and edge at the moment like I always do but we'll see," he said.
"Adam's got a plan and I trust him wherever he puts me. I used to prefer the edge but after last season in the middle, I actually enjoyed playing there and I thought I performed reasonably well there.
"But look, it doesn't worry me now. Wherever he puts me, he puts me."
A dual winner of the Danny Buderus Medal, Barnett said he was "reasonably happy'' with his form last season but is looking to improve his attention to detail off the field to take the next step.
"It was interrupted by injury but I thought I came back well from there but I was very disappointed with the way the season ended," he said.
"Myself personally, I thought I let my standards drop, not intentionally, and then as a team, we didn't finish the way we wanted to.
"There are a few things personally I'm trying to get right off the field and I've taken big steps in that way and I'm looking forward to seeing how that helps my footy."
Pressed on what he was working on off the field, Barnett said: "Staying off the drink a little bit and trying to sort of get my eating habits nailed to a tee I guess. They are not big things but they are things that will help me.
"I just think it will help me be more consistent and finish the year the way I started and hopefully help me get to that next level. That's where I want to get to as a personal goal and I'm really going to do my best to make it there."
Barnett claims he has put allegations that he racially abused Gold Coast forward Tyrone Peachey during the club's final round game last season well and truly behind him.
"It was very disappointing to be accused of something like that I didn't do," he said. "But I've had a lot of support which has been very pleasing."
As for the controversy and publicity damaging his reputation, he said: "I don't think so but if it does, I'll just handle it. I fronted it the best I could and thought I handled it really well. That's all I can do."
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