For once the boot is on the other foot. After struggling all season against teams with older, more experienced players, Newcastle get a chance to play in their own age division when they take on Penrith at Hunter Stadium on Sunday.

It might seem hard to believe, but the Knights will field a team with a higher average age than their Penrith counterparts and, collectively, almost as many NRL appearances. The 17-man squad Nathan Brown named on Tuesday have an average age of 24.3, compared to Penrith's 23.3.

Young gun: Jacob Saifiti is one of the Knights tyros blooded this season by coach Nathan Brown. Credit:Getty Images

Newcastle's players have strung together 904 games in the top grade, not far behind Penrith's 975. The Panthers have named five players with fewer than 20 NRL games to their name, and so have Newcastle. Indeed, if not for the absence of veteran lock Jeremy Smith because of a calf strain, Newcastle would hold the edge on all fronts.

Yet if the Panthers appear to hold no distinct advantage in terms of overall experience, their on-field performances have been a quantum leap ahead of Newcastle's. Monday's 38-18 hammering of the Roosters was Penrith's third win in their past four games, and 10th for the season. They have climbed to seventh spot and appear well on their way to the play-offs.