THE Knights look certain to be bolstered by the inclusion of representative big guns Danny Buderus, Jarrod Mullen and Steve Simpson for their must-win game against Souths at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday.

Buderus had a favourable report from a CAT scan yesterday on his injured left knee then ran with the side at their Mayfield training base.

Simpson is likely to return against the Rabbitohs after missing the past two games against Penrith and Cronulla with hip and ankle injuries.

Mullen suffered deep bruising to his left hip with 15 minutes left of the game against Cronulla at Toyota Stadium last Saturday but is in good spirits and making steady progress.

Knights coach Brian Smith will consider further medical reports before announcing a team today for the game against Souths but the return of Buderus at training yesterday put a spring in everyone's step after their frustrating 16-13 loss to the Sharks.

Buderus fractured the top of his tibia in NSW's 16-10 loss to Queensland in Origin III on July 2 and has missed Newcastle's past three games against the Dragons, Panthers and Sharks.

Knights medical officer Neil Halpin believed the fracture had healed sufficiently but will consult today with the radiologist who took the scan before granting Buderus a clearance.

"If he's running on it and there's no pain and no tenderness, then I think he can play," Halpin said.

Buderus said he felt "good to go" and was looking forward to helping his teammates mount a late charge to the NRL finals.

"The scan looks good and my knee feels fine so I'll see how I pull up after running on it at training this week, but at this stage it looks all good to go," Buderus said.

Halpin will see Simpson today but did not anticipate the former NSW and Australian second-rower sitting out a third straight game.

He said he would monitor Mullen's progress during the week "but I think he'll be OK too".

Veteran centre Adam MacDougall, who missed the Cronulla game with a calf injury, hoped to return against his old club but was still being treated and remained under a cloud.

Meanwhile, Souths look like losing dangerous dummy-half Issac Luke for the game against the Knights after he was charged with a grade-one dangerous throw from a tackle in the Rabbitohs' 36-12 loss to the Tigers at ANZ Stadium last Sunday.

Luke faces a one-game suspension whether he pleads guilty or fights it at the NRL judiciary and the Rabbitohs have until noon today to respond to the charge