Off-contract Newcastle captain Mitchell Pearce has brushed off links to rival NRL clubs, declaring he wants to stay at the Knights beyond the end of next season.

The 31-year-old premiership-winning halfback is in talks with the club to extend his stay in Newcastle and is hoping a deal can be finalised before Christmas.

“The process is underway, I’m happy where it’s all at. I’m having open conversation with the club,” he told AAP.

“I love it here (in Newcastle).

“There’s obviously a process you’ve got to go through to work out where everything ends up but I love the club here and I want to stay here.”

The Knights are also eager to lock up their star half who has spent the past three seasons with the club after a switch from the Sydney Roosters.

After coming on the open market on November 1, Pearce has been linked with a return to the Roosters, with other NRL rivals also interested.

However, his preference is to stay in Newcastle and lead the club to an elusive premiership after a disappointing finish to the 2020 season.

Pearce is due to play his 300th NRL game early in 2021, but said he wouldn’t put a ceiling on how long he could continue to play beyond next year.

It’s expected his next contract could be his last, but Pearce won’t define it in strict terms.

“You never know what’s going to happen but the body still feels great,” he said.

“I still feel as young as I did 10 years ago to be honest, with the way we train now and the way we look after our bodies I still feel healthy and fit.

“As long as that stays intact I still feel like I’ve got a lot of good years ahead of me.”

Pearce joined pre-season training for the first time on Thursday after a busy off-season setting up a barre studio in Newcastle with his fiance Kristen.

The pair are planning their wedding for later this month.