Scans will reveal the full extent of Kangaroos bolter Sione Mata’utia’s ankle complaint this week but the Newcastle Knights reckon they are already breathing easy.

There were fears Mata’utia would miss the first 10 NRL rounds with a syndesmosis injury when he damaged his ankle in a pool game at the Auckland Nines at Eden Park on the weekend.

The 18-year-old – who became the Kangaroos’ youngest-ever Test player at the recent Four Nations – did not allay those fears when he returned from New Zealand in a moon boot on Monday.

Knights director of football Michael Hagan said scan results for Mata’utia and Carlos Tuimavave (leg) would be revealed on Thursday but claimed initial tests suggested the injuries were minor.

“It (scans) is hopefully only precautionary and they will both be fine for round one,” Hagan told Knights TV.

“That’s a huge plus. That was probably the most pleasing thing.”

Newcastle believe Mata’utia only suffered a low grade ankle strain, forcing him to miss their Nines quarter-final.

“He saw the specialist…who wasn’t overly concerned with the injury but has scheduled precautionary scans on Wednesday,” the Knights website said of Mata’utia, who made the Four Nations squad after just seven NRL games.

“While for Carlos Tuimavave, who was injured in the second game of the tournament, he will have an X-ray on his lower leg on Wednesday.

“Results for both players are expected on Thursday.”

Mata’utia is now expected to challenge former NSW flyers James McManus and Akuila Uate for a starting berth on the wing ahead of Newcastle’s NRL season opener at home against the Warriors on March 7.

It would a huge relief for the Knights who were wary of unleashing their stars at the Nines after playmaker Jarrod Mullen tore his hamstring in 2014, missing the first five rounds of the NRL season.

The Knights won just one of those five games and never recovered upon Mullen’s return.

In another shot in the arm for Newcastle, Mullen was one of the Knights’ standouts at Eden Park on the weekend.

“He controlled the games really well, certainly in the first day,” Hagan said.

“I think he’ll take a lot of confidence out of here, along with (halves partner) Tyrone Roberts.”

Newcastle have a weekend off before their NRL trial against the Port Macquarie Sharks in Wauchope on February 14.