The 23-year-old New Zealander tore the anterior cruciate and medial ligaments in his knee playing for Newcastle's NSW Cup feeder team, the Central Coast Centurions, in a 28-18 victory over his former lower-grade club Canterbury at Bass Hill on Sunday.

Karawana will spend up to six weeks in a brace waiting for his torn medial ligament to heal then is expected to undergo reconstructive surgery which would rule him out until the start of next season.

The Knights are considering the merits of a new recovery procedure that could possibly have him back on the field within three months, and Karawana will discuss that option when he visits knee specialist Dr Merv Cross in Sydney today for another opinion.

Knights captain Kurt Gidley is due to meet Dr Cross today for a progress report on a knee injury he suffered in the pre-season All Stars game.

Gidley resumed running at training on Monday and hopes to make his first appearance of the NRL season against Penrith at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Easter Monday, April 5.