KNIGHTS coach Brian Smith doubts whether five-eighth Chris Bailey can shrug off illness and injury in time to take his place against Cronulla at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night.

Bailey suffered a thigh injury in last week's win against Penrith which was treated with an injection of a herbal anti-inflammatory on Monday. He has also been struggling with a cold.

"I'm far from convinced that Bails is right at this stage," Smith said yesterday.

"He had a dose of the flu as well as coming up with a quad injury.

"I think it'll take quite a bit for him to prove his fitness to us this week."

If Bailey was ruled out, young playmaker Scott Dureau could start at halfback, prompting Jarrod Mullen to shuffle to five-eighth.

Dureau was named yesterday as Newcastle's hooker, but if the squad is at full strength, he would be more likely to fill the role of interchange substitute so Smith can continue to play six big forwards in his pack with Kurt Gidley acting as dummy half.

"There's a bit of flexibility and versatility in the team, so I think we've got it covered, whatever happens, with the 18 we've named," Smith said.

After a week in the NSW Cup, Cooper Vuna has been recalled to the left wing.

Vuna will replace Wes Naiqama (broken foot), whose absence will necessitate Adam MacDougall switching from the flank to centre.

Smith said he considered promoting Fijian flyer Akuila Uate for his NRL debut, but the 20-year-old had been hindered by a hip injury that required a cortisone injection.

"Aku will probably be fit to play by the weekend, but it was going to be hard for him to do much training this week and prepare properly for the game," Smith said.

"It also probably wouldn't be ideal to throw him in for a game like this one on debut.

"Cooper played quite well on Sunday [in reserve grade] and got involved, and he knows what's required on Saturday night."

Gidley was named as fullback, but Smith said he would handle the same hybrid role as last week, when he wore the No.9 jersey.

Smith was confident that Steve Simpson would be fit to return from a hip-flexor injury and handle the captaincy responsibility.

AAP reports: Parramatta named Kris Keating to make his first NRL start in place of injured Feleti Mateo in Friday night's match against Manly at Brookvale Oval.

It will be Keating's third NRL game after coming off the bench twice this year.

"Yes, they're big shoes to fill, but Kris has been training with us all season and is very aware of what he needs to do," Eels coach Michael Hagan said.