King Kalyn, named after Knights star Kalyn Ponga, will start from box seven in heat three of four of the series.

He has won three times and never missed a place in six starts over the Maitland 400m but he faces stiff opposition, especially from Chevy King (box four) and Speed Predator (three), in the hunt for a top-two finish and place in the final.

"He's back to his home track of Maitland, which he likes, but it's a bit of a tough race on Thursday," McMurray said. "Three and four are the dogs to beat. They are the speed dogs in the race."

With a run of 22.21 seconds, King Kalyn has the quickest time of the field for the Maitland 400m, but that came at just his second start in April last year. He now has eight wins and seven placings in 21 starts.

"If he gets his own way, he can still run that, but he just lacks a bit of early pace," McMurray said. "Back in maiden class, he could get out and do his own thing, but now he's racing these speed dogs, he needs a bit of luck.

"We'll be looking for him to finish off down the outside and get ready for a 450, that's probably where he is better suited."

King Kalyn, McMurray's only dog, was second last week at Maitland in his return from six weeks off with a tendon injury.

"It was a good effort but it was a much easier race," he said.