Jarrod Mullen's Newcastle team-mates have urged the gifted playmaker to stop trying too hard as the struggling Knights try to get their NRL season moving.

Newcastle were woeful in their last-start 28-10 loss to Penrith and will be desperate to improve on their four wins from 12 starts against the Warriors when they return home to EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday.

Former NSW half Mullen is the key to their attack but his form has mirrored that of his inconsistent team-mates'.

"Everyone knows what Mullo can do, I think he's just in the same boat as our team and the same as myself, just a bit inconsistent and we've just got to get that confidence back," back-rower Cory Paterson told AAP.

"On his day Mullo's one of the best halves in the game and we all know what he can do and just hopefully he can do it soon.

"He'll find it soon, he's good enough to do it.

"I think Mullo tries too hard sometimes, I think he just needs to take a bit of a backward step and just play his natural game and then the rest will come."

Newcastle will need to overcome the loss of captain Kurt Gidley to the NSW State of Origin side, while the Warriors have won four of the last five between the clubs.

The Aucklanders have overcome a relentless injury toll to key players, the latest centre Brent Tate's broken jaw, to stay in touch with the top eight.

Paterson said confidence was the key to a Knights turnaround.

"There's still plenty of belief there, we've got a good roster," he said.

"You can earn confidence quickly but you can also lose it so if we can get a bit of confidence back and win maybe two or three games in a row I reckon we'll be going good.

"We still believe in each other so there's no question about that.

"We weren't too crash hot against Penrith last week and we've sort of got a kick up the backside which we deserved."

Wes Naiqama replaces Gidley at fullback, while prop Daniel Tolar will captain the Knights for the first time.

For the Warriors, Joel Moon comes into the centres to replace Tate.

Their new halves combination of James Maloney and Isaac John will play game two together but have swapped the numbers on their backs.

Maloney will shift to five-eighth and big talker John will play halfback.

"I just think the way Isaac talks, he'll make a lot of the initial calls and I'll just play around that," Maloney said.

"It gives me a bit more freedom."

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