Newcastle Knights will be boosted by the long-awaited return of star fullback Kalyn Ponga for Saturday's clash against North Queensland at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Ponga will be named in the No.1 jersey for the game with the club extremely confident he will play after missing the Knights' last six matches with a groin tear.
He trained strongly with the squad on Tuesday.

Provided he gets through the game unscathed, Ponga will be an automatic selection in the Queensland side for Origin III against NSW.
In a further boost for Newcastle, Kurt Mann has shrugged off an ankle injury that saw him replaced against the Warriors and will start in the centres against the Cowboys.
Ponga will be the only change to the 17-man squad that accounted for the Warriors.
Mann will shift from fullback to centre with Brodie Jones reverting back to the bench. Jack Johns will be the 18th man.