Returning Newcastle halfback Jarrod Mullen doubts skipper Danny Buderus will back up and play for the Knights on Saturday, less than 24 hours after completing his NSW Country duties.

Buderus had been the centre of a dispute over his inclusion in the State of Origin trial in Wollongong on Friday night, Knights coach Brian Smith adamant the NSW skipper should have been given an exemption from the clash to avoid the risk of injury.

But Country coach Laurie Daley was equally adamant Buderus play, naming him captain and hooker for the clash with City at WIN Stadium.

Smith said he would see how Buderus, and prop Ben Cross, feel at lunch time on Saturday before deciding on their availability to face Gold Coast at 5.30pm.

But Mullen, who is set to play his first game after missing three weeks with a torn calf muscle, says 30-year-old Buderus will struggle to recover in time to face the table-topping Titans.

"At this stage I don't think he will play, Danny does not pull up well after games," said Mullen.

"He is getting a bit older these days, he is not a young pup anymore.

"It depends on how many minutes he plays but I don't think we are looking at him to play this week."

Smith said Cross and Buderus were his only fitness concerns leading into the clash but would not reveal his plans to cover the likely loss of their hooker and captain.

"We have got a few options and we're going to sort that out in the next couple of days," said Smith.

"If both are up to playing they will play and if not they won't.

"A lot of players say they feel better playing a day after rep games than two or three days after.

"Maybe we got lucky, not unlucky (with the schedule)."

Smith added the next three weeks were crucial to Newcastle's season as games against leaders Gold Coast (home), premiers Melbourne (away) and unpredictable Wests Tigers (home) would help gauge where they rank in the NRL.

"We get a real good opportunity to measure ourselves and where we are in this league," he said.

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