Knights star Kalyn Ponga will see his surgeon next week with a return playing date looming

While coach Adam O'Brien has been reluctant to put pressure on his dynamic fullback by nominating a potential return date, the club's round 6 clash at home against the Sharks on April 16 appears the most likely if he gets the all clear from the specialist.

But O'Brien indicated last night he will need to be absolutely convinced of Ponga's fitness before he is considered for selection.

"Kalyn's back in training, not at 100 percent, but fairly close to it," O'Brien told the Newcastle Herald.

"We'll obviously be guided by his surgeon and will want to give him a good bank of training before we even consider bringing him back. But even when he's right, we may even give him another week after that.

"I don't want to rush him back until he is 110 percent ready. But training-wise, he's getting really close to doing everything with us."

O'Brien said the same level of care will be taken with veteran five-eighth Blake Green, who could potentially be available to return from his knee reconstruction against St George Illawarra on Sunday week.

Green returned to full training last week and will need a further two weeks of full contact before being considered.

How he recovers from the contact load will determine if he plays against the Dragons or if he is held back to resume a week later against the Gold Coast Titans.

"We have waited this long but I'll play an even longer game with them if I have to,"O'Brien said. "Everyone has worked really hard including themselves so we are not about to make a rushed decision on them."

Meanwhile. Kurt Mann returns to the side at five-eighth for Sunday's clash against the Wests Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium after missing the 20-16 win over the Warriors due to a knee injury.

Mann's inclusion at the expense of the suspended Phoenix Crossland is the only change to the squad.

Crossland will miss the next two games after taking the early guilty plea on a grade 2 crusher tackle charge but would have been unavailable for the Tigers clash anyway after suffering a knee injury against the Warriors.

He is currently in a brace and could be sidelined for up to three weeks.

The Tigers will be out to bounce back after Sunday's flogging by the Roosters.

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