Daniel Saifiti and Jayden Brailey will share the captaincy duties against the Bulldogs in Round 1

Coach Adam O'Brien broke the news to his pack leaders in front of team-mates, club officials and sponsors at the Knights' season launch at Wests City on Tuesday night.

But the coach stopped short of announcing a sole captain for 2021 with the player most likely to fill the role, Blake Green, unlikely to play before round four.

Also at the launch, the Knights officially confirmed the upgrade and extension of boom centre Bradman Best's contract until the end of 2024 while a new one-year deal for halfback Mitchell Pearce, believed to be worth around $680,000, is very close to being finalised.

Saifiti's rise to co-captain status has been meritorious.

Going into his sixth year in the NRL after debuting in 2016 as a 19-year-old alongside twin brother Jacob, he is now one of the game's premier frontrowers at just 24.

He was arguably the Blues' best in their Origin series loss to the Maroons last season.

O'Brien told the Newcastle Herald the recognition for Saifiti is "richly deserved".

"DSaf just commands respect with his mere presence," O'Brien said. "He walks into a room and everyone is quiet and when he speaks, the other boys listen. They want to follow his lead.

"In the time that I have known him as a player and a person, he has just grown in leaps and bounds and there is no doubt in my mind he is going to lead from the front and be that inspirational figure against the Bulldogs in his 100th game."

With Brailey likely to play the full 80 minutes against the Bulldogs, O'Brien said he will be largely given the responsibility of conversing with the referees on the field.

"They both really compliment each other in what they bring to the role," he said.

"What you get with Brails, apart from his footballing ability, is his calmness and cool head and he's the guy who will get us back on track if we get a bit hectic or erratic.

"I'm confident the pair of them will work well together."

O'Brien indicated he will likely revisit the captaincy issue when Green becomes fully fit and available following his recovery from a knee reconstruction.

"I don't feel like there is any urgency around that at this stage," O'Brien said. "Blake will be representing the club for a lot of official stuff. He and Kalyn [Ponga] are going to the NRL season launch as our representatives. I'll have a look at it again when he is back on deck and playing again."

While round four appears to be a likely target date for Green's playing return, he said on Tuesday he is yet to be given a time-frame.

He is likely to see his surgeon at the end of this week which may give him some clarity on when he will be back.

"It's [the recovery] going really well - it's been nice and smooth and we'll keep ticking those boxes," he said.

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