The Knights will go into Monday night's clash with the Cowboys in Newcastle with a near full-strength outfit for the first time this season.
Despite sitting in sixth spot on the ladder the Knights have lost key players to injuries and representative duties during the first half of the season but will welcome some high-profile personnel when they host North Queensland for Round 18.
Skipper Kurt Gidley and winger Akuila Uate return from State of Origin duty while playmaker Jarrod Mullen and veteran centre Adam MacDougall return to the starting side from injury.
"Obviously Jarrod is a major one (to return) and Kurt and Aku coming back, so we are close to full strength," Knights coach Rick Stone told the media this week.
"Although Neville Costigan (knee) and Isaac De Gois (knee) will miss this week, but they should be right for the following week against Manly."
The return of Gidley and Mullen, who have been named in the halves, sees the dynamic young duo of Ryan Stig and Tyronne Roberts pushed to the bench but the Newcastle coach still named the pair in an extended 19-man Knights squad.
"They are both definitely still in the frame," Stone said. "With Isaac out we may have to play Kurt at hooker for some time. Or we had Tyronne play at dummy half when he first came into first grade so there is the option of doing that again."
Stone said one of the big comebacks was that of MacDougall, who has barely been seen by the Knights this season after injuring his knee early in the campaign. An 8-week recovery was then hampered by an infection, but the 36-year-old is close to full fitness and ready to lend his experience to the Newcastle backline.
MacDougall will slot into the gap left by Keith Lulia who takes an enforced break on the sidelines after receiving concussions in two consecutive games.
"He (MacDogall) has trained strongly for the last couple of weeks," Stone said of MacDougall. "His body looks good and he looks sharp."
"He is in great shape considering he has been around a while – more than a while – a long time."
"He is something like 35 years of age and he looks after himself as well as any player."
"He knows when he is right – he was pretty close last week but we decided to wait another week and his opportunity opens up with Keith having to have a week off."
In other Knights news fears that the Tinkler takeover may be in jeopardy after the Hunter Sports Group missed its June 30 deadline to pay part of their monetary guarantee have been put to bed after Knights Chairman Rob Tew confirmed the club had received a $3.5million down payment from mining magnate.
The HSG asked for an extension until August 10 to clear the funds for the official handover but the agreed $3.5 million down payment has been paid, which the club will use to pay off longstanding debts.