St George Illawarra forward Korbin Sims has been drafted into coach Paul McGregor's 18-man squad ahead of the Dragons' NRL Perth Nines campaign on February 14 and 15 at HBF Stadium.

Sims replaces Blake Lawrie, who was ruled out on Tuesday with a knee injury.

Victorious Australia Nines internationals Ben Hunt and Tyson Frizell headline the squad, alongside new skipper Cameron McInnes who has recovered from a broken leg suffered in the penultimate round of 2019.

Tim Lafai and Brayden Wiliame – who represented Samoa and Fiji at October's World Cup Nines respectively – have been included.

McGregor has also handed dynamic quintet Euan Aitken, Matt Dufty, Mikaele Ravalawa, Jason Saab and Tristan Sailor a licence to thrill at the returning tournament.

As announced on Sunday, the Nines will hail the return of club legend Jason Nightingale who last donned a Dragons jumper in 2018.

The Nines will also offer an opportunity for development players Adam Clune and Jayden Sullivan to test their mettle against some of the game's best. Dragons' reigning Under-20s Player of the Year Cody Ramsey will also make the trip to Western Australia.

The Dragons' Nines campaign will kick-off against local rivals Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks on Friday at 5:45pm (AWST)/8:45pm (AEDT). The squad will run out again on Saturday against the Parramatta Eels at 12:25pm (AWST)/3:25pm (AEDT) with an eye to secure a spot in the quarter finals later that day.

The Dragons' 2020 NRL Perth Nines jersey is available for purchase online now, and is available at the Team Store. Make sure you're wearing the freshest Dragons kit going this weekend.

St George Illawarra Dragons' NRL Perth Nines squad –