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Connor Watson admits he'd be disappointed to go from a player in Newcastle's spine to a bench utility when he returns from a knee injury in the NRL.

Connor Watson admits it would be disappointing if he was forced to return from a knee injury as a utility player after being replaced at fullback by Kalyn Ponga.

Watson was on Tuesday named on an extended Knights bench, having not played since the club's round-two loss to Penrith.

He is on track to play against Manly on Saturday evening, needing only to get through the week's last training sessions to be passed fit.

However after starting the year at fullback in a positional switch with Ponga's move to five-eighth, Watson could now find himself out of the starting side after coach Nathan Brown declared that experiment over.

Mason Lino has again been named at No.6 against the Sea Eagles.

It leaves Watson battling with either Lino for the starting spot or Kurt Mann for the bench utility position.

"I think it would be a bit disappointing, but I haven't been able to do much about it in regards to that I started the year at No.1 and got injured," Watson said.

"You can't demand too much when you haven't played too much footy."

Recruited by the Knights last year from the Roosters, Watson started each game he played at five-eighth last season.

But he also spent time at hooker during games playing as utility early in the season, with Brock Lamb coming off the bench and into the halves.

"The biggest challenge for me is not to be worried about playing a spot but just getting out there and playing footy," Watson said.

"It takes a bit of a toll mentally, especially when you're getting all these niggling injuries."