Canberra skipper Jarrod Croker expects playmaker Blake Austin will get plenty of minutes in their NRL season-opener against Penrith, despite being named on the bench.

Sam Williams will start at five-eighth in Saturday’s clash at GIO Stadium in place of Austin, who is yet to play a game since having major shoulder surgery last September.

“I know he’s 100 per cent ready to go and if him starting on the bench this weekend is the best thing for the team then Blake will do that for us,” Croker said on Thursday.