SAN JOSE — Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and a handful of other Sharks regulars are set to dress for their first preseason game Saturday at SAP Center against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Evander Kane, Logan Couture, Brent Burns and Justin Braun will also be playing their first game of the preseason, as the Sharks look to improve to 3-0 for the exhibition schedule.

While Thornton, Pavelski and Kane have played with each other since the start of camp last Friday, Saturday will be the first time the trio will be able to play together in a game of any sort. Thornton has not played — preseason, regular season or playoffs — since Jan. 23 of this year when he suffered torn ligaments in his right knee in a game against Winnipeg.

“It’s coming along,” Pavelski said of the line’s chemistry. “In practice, there’s already been a couple of times where plays have just happened quicker, where in the first couple of days, maybe they hadn’t. We’re starting to adjust here and there, and figure it out.

“You need games to help that process along and so that’s why I think we’re just excited to get out there and get the season started a little bit.” Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, commentary and conversation.

In terms of the competition for spots, center Rourke Chartier — already making a strong case to be included on the 23-man roster once the regular season begins — is skating on a line with Dylan Gambrell and Marcus Sorensen on the wings.

Chartier, who suffered two concussions while playing with the Barracuda the last two seasons, has stood out not only on offense with a goal and three assists in two games, but also with his hockey IQ and his attention to detail on the defensive end.

“I’m having a lot of fun playing hockey again,” Chartier said. “I’m feeling healthy, so it’s fun. Anytime you can contribute, it’s been good and obviously it’s been only two games so far. Third game here tonight. A couple of the big boys are in, so I’m trying to prove that I can not just play with them, but contribute, too.

“I just want to stick around as long as possible.” For complete Sharks coverage

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DeBoer said he wanted to give Gambrell, who has played as a center throughout camp and the Sharks’ first two exhibitions, a look as a winger. Gambrell has an assist in two games, but has perhaps not stood out as much as Chartier and Antti Suomela have.

“We want to give these young guys every opportunity to play, and they’ve got to be versatile,” DeBoer said. “We know (Gambrell) can play center, I want to see if he can play a little bit of wing.”

Suomela is centering a ling with Barclay Goodrow and Lukas Radil.

Radil, 28, has also put himself in the mix for a spot on the Sharks roster, as he had two points in Thursday’s game in Anaheim.

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Home sweet home? Giants, visitors at Oracle Park, tie franchise record in win Listed at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Radil gives the depth of San Jose’s forward group a bit more size. Radil, who spent the last three years with Moscow Spartak of the KHL, was signed to a one-year deal in April.

In the Sharks’ 7-3 win over Anaheim, Radil scored at the 11:31 mark of the third period, then made a nice pass to Chartier, who set up Joonas Donskoi for another goal at the 16:27 mark.

“He’s a big body, moves well. He makes plays with the puck,” DeBoer said of Radil. “He creates offense, he finds a way to get shots off or make plays. He’s one of those guys when you’re coaching him, you notice he’s getting good things done when he’s out there. It’s always nice to have big bodies.”