Newcastle Knights to field top 17 in trial against Eels at Maitland

The Knights hold a captain’s run, which is open to the public, at the ground on Friday from 10am ahead of  what promises to be a high quality game with Parramatta also signalling they will running close to their best team including returning star Jarryd Hayne

“A good performance this week can help people start the year in first grade,” Knights coach Nathan Brown told the Knights website after training on Tuesday.

“There’s no doubt we’ve got some younger players who we feel are better than they were this time last year and we’ve recruited players who are a lot more experienced and have achieved a lot more... so there’s going to be a lot more competition.

“There are some spots that we’re pretty settled on and one average performance is not going to dictate team selection (in round one).

"But on the other hand, for a lot of our younger players that have had an easier run into first grade, they need to understand to be a good first grader you’ve got to play consistently well for long periods, week in week out.”

The Knights are likely to give the best performing players from reserve grade a run in the first grade trial towards the end of the game.

“We will name 17 and then the rest will play reserve grade,” Brown saidl.

“The last 15 minutes we’ll probably make a fair amount of changes, where for a good 50 to 60 minutes, we’ll have a main stable 17 and then whichever guys played really well in reserve grade might get some first grade time.”

Brown praised the new Maitland facility and expected the 7000 fans will get a quality game on Saturday.

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“Maitland is a great ground, we’ve trained out there two or three times and if it’s not the best country ground around, it would be in the top couple,” he said

“Parramatta was a top four side last year and obviously Jarryd Hayne always brings plenty of media attention.

“Parramatta has named a very good side and we’re excited about moving forwards as a club.

While fans will get a first glimpse of some players making their return from injury, others will miss out.

“Daniel (Saifiti) and Tau (Tautau Moga) will definitely play but Barny (Mitch Barnett) more than likely won’t,” Brown said.

“If it was a grand final or a competition game, we’d probably think about it, but it’s looking like he’s probably a week short.

There is also some doubt as to whether fan favourite Sione Mata’utia will take the field.

“It's just a minor knee issue with Sione Mata’utia, which has just flared up,” Brown said.

“I wouldn't say he is a 100 per cent certain starter, but if he gets through training well tomorrow he’ll hopefully play.”

Kick off for the main game is at 7pm.

The Knights squad is:

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Shaun Kenny-Dowall  3. Sione Mata’utia 4. Tautau Moga 5. Nathan Ross 6. Connor Watson 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Slade Griffin 10. Jacob Lillyman 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Aidan Guerra 13. Herman Ese’ese Interchange: 14. Danny Levi 15. Chris Heighington 16. Jamie Buhrer 17. Jacob Saifiti