KNIGHTS five-eighth and NSW halfback hopeful Jarrod Mullen will have a strength test on his calves at Newcastle University tomorrow to give himself every chance of playing against the Roosters at Bluetongue Stadium on Sunday.

Mullen has not been named in the side - coach Brian Smith nominated Chris Bailey and Kurt Gidley as his halves - but he trained in the rain with his teammates at EnergyAustralia Stadium yesterday and completed the session without incident.

The 21-year-old playmaker is determined to play if he can prove his fitness, but the Knights have a bye after Sunday's game and he does not want to risk aggravating the injury and possibly be sidelined for another four to six weeks.

Mullen suffered a small tear in his right calf midway through the second half of Newcastle's 26-20 loss to the Warriors in Auckland on April 6 and missed Sunday's 34-22 loss to Brisbane at EAS.

"The medical staff are still concerned. They initially put three to six weeks on him, but he's been saying all along that it's not as bad as that, so today he put the bit between his teeth and went for it," Smith said last night.

"He's going to do a fitness test and he'll go to the university on Friday morning for a strength test on his calves, so they can measure if one's stronger than the other and all those things.

"If he passes and they put all the ticks on him, then we would have to give him consideration but until he does that, he's out. But he could put himself back in again on Friday."

Mullen is keen to keep himself in the NSW Origin selection picture but said his priority was getting back on the field for the Knights and helping them snap a three-game losing streak.

"The strength test should just show up if there's anything abnormal," Mullen said.

"It feels OK, and I just want to give myself every chance for this week because I love playing footy and I hate sitting on the sidelines watching.

"If I can't, I can't, but I at least want to give myself every opportunity. But, in saying that, I'm not going to risk it if it's not right, so I'll know more when I do this test on Friday."

Mullen had a light run earlier this week but said yesterday's session was the first time he had pushed himself, and he was pleased with his output in slippery conditions.

"It probably still feels a little bit tight, especially when I go to take off, and they were saying I was still limping a little bit, but I'll see how I pull up in the morning," he said.

Centre Adam MacDougall remains on track to return after missing the past four games with a knee injury but, as was the case last weekend, he wants to complete the week's preparation and will not make a decision until the final training session on Saturday.

"That's just how that's going to be with Doogs for another two or weeks," Smith said.

"If he doesn't get a reaction, if he gets through the week all right, then he'll play."

Meanwhile, halfback Scott Dureau had an MRI scan on his injured right. ankle in Sydney yesterday and will see Knights medical officer Dr Neil Halpin today for a full prognosis. He has already been ruled out of Sunday's game.