Pocket rocket Preston Campbell has issued a challenge to Newcastle's big men - run straight at him in Friday night's NRL season opener at Penrith Stadium.

That sort of treatment is nothing new for the 165cm, 70kg Panthers five-eighth, but he believes he's ready for the onslaught after working on his defensive technique and strength during the off-season.

Campbell will be in the firing line against the Newcastle pack led by internationals Ben Kennedy and Steve Simpson, with props Adam Woolnough and Josh Perry sure to also test out the pint-sized pivot.

"They'll definitely run at me," said Campbell.

"Teams did it last year, they'll do it again this year.

"I sort of worked on my strength and my technique a bit in the off-season so hopefully that'll come good for me.

"It would be good (if they ran at me), just to see how it goes.

"It went pretty well against the Warriors in the trial game and didn't go so well against Bradford in the (World) Club Challenge but hopefully it'll go alright against the Knights."

English Super League champions Bradford defeated Penrith in the WCC last month in England, mainly by keeping the ball away from Penrith's mobile forwards and running at smaller men like Campbell and fullback Rhys Wesser.

Campbell said he had worked especially hard on his positional play in defence.

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