The challenges faced by the Dolphins in their tumultuous start to the NRL season have increased with two second-rowers ruled out of the clash with Newcastle.

Samoa international Connelly Lemuelu has been rubbed out for up to four weeks with a fractured eye socket, sustained in the 16-14 loss to South Sydney last Friday.

He will miss Thursday night's away clash with the Knights, as will fellow back-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki who failed an HIA against the Rabbitohs.

Dolphins head of performance Jeremy Hickmans said there was one silver lining for Lemuelu.

"Connelly will not require surgery on his eye socket," Hickmans said.

"This is a positive as it brings the timeline for his return to the field down to around the four-week mark."

Lemuelu was forced to return to Brisbane by car due to the dangers posed by flying with such an injury.

Hickmans said he expected Finefeuiaki to be fit for the round-three match against Wests Tigers at Kayo Stadium on March 22.

The Dolphins do have back row reinforcements for the Knights clash. Last week's 18th man Oryn Keeley has come into the team for Lemuelu and will partner Max Plath in the back-row.

The Dolphins travelled to Newcastle on Monday night, two days early, to prepare for the fixture as their training base was flooded and without electricity in the aftermath of the cyclone.

The side trained on Tuesday morning and will do so again on Wednesday.

The club has been through plenty of adversity already this season. They had to play their round-one home clash in Sydney due to Cyclone Alfred and deal with the withdrawals of Kodi Nikorima, Mark Nicholls and 18th man Kenny Bromwich, who all stayed behind to be with their loved ones during the uncertain time.

The Dolphins then had a delayed flight home after the Rabbitohs match to Toowoomba before catching a bus back to Brisbane.

They endured the cyclone for 48 hours and were unable to train on Monday before heading to Newcastle with a short turnaround for another away game.

Nikorima and Nicholls have both come back into the side for the Knights showdown. Five-eighth Nikorima is in for Sean O'Sullivan while prop Nicholls is on the bench in place of Finefeuiaki.

Prop Josh Kerr, who played instead of Nicholls last week, retains his spot on the bench after making a huge impact last week with his strong carries and quick play-the-balls.