Luckless Origin winger Edrick Lee has a fractured foot and will miss the start of the premiership as the Knights disastrous run of injuries continues.
With fullback Kalyn Ponga, five-eighth Blake Green and backrower Lachlan Fitzgibbon already on the casualty list and set to miss multiple early rounds, Lee's injury suffered at training last month is a further setback.
It's understood he will not undergo surgery but the fracture is taking longer to heal than first anticipated and he is likely to be missing for longer than just one game.
It opens the door for the highly talented Starford To'a to start the season against the Bulldogs on March 12 outside boom centre Bradman Best in what would be an explosive pairing on the left flank.
To'a and Gehamat Shibasaki have been named on the wings for Saturday's trial against Melbourne Storm in Albury with Hymel Hunt rested due to a hamstring strain. He is not in any doubt for the Bulldogs clash.
Knights coach Adam O'Brien has named an extended squad of 23 players with five-eighth Kurt Mann also a noticeable absentee. Mann will miss the trial due a pre-arranged family commitment with Phoenix Crossland to partner Mitchell Pearce in the halves in a huge opportunity for the 20-year-old.
Crossland has featured on seven occasions off the bench in the top grade over the past two seasons but has generally been used as a back-up hooker. He faces a huge challenge up against the game's premier five-eighth in Cameron Munster.
The much-anticipated return of hooker Jayden Brailey following a knee reconstruction after playing just two games in his debut season for the club in 2020 will be watched closely, as will Connor Watson's debut in the No.13 jersey while Tyson Frizell will wear Knights colours for the first time.
Teenage English recruit Dominic Young has been rewarded after his eye-catching debut for the club in a lower grade trial last weekend against Cessnock with a spot on the extended bench.
The Storm begin life without Cameron Smith but have Harry Grant poised to debut.
Knights: 1. Tex Hoy 2. Star To'a 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Gehamat Shibasaki 6. Phoenix Crossland 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. David Klemmer 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Connor Watson 14. Chris Randall 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Sauaso Sue 17. Josh King 18. Simi Sasagi 19. Brodie Jones 20. Mathew Croker 21. Brayden Musgrove 22. Pasami Saulo 23. Dominic Young
Storm: 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen 2 Dean Ieremia 3 Reimis Smith 4 Justin Olam 5 Josh Addo-Carr 6 Cameron Munster 7 Jahrome Hughes 8 Jesse Bromwich (c) 9 Harry Grant 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11 Felise Kaufusi 12 Kenny Bromwich 13 Dale Finucane (c). Interchange: 14 Brandon Smith 15 Christian Welch 16 Tui Kamikamica 17 Tom Eisenhuth.
