The former Panther will come onto the right edge in place of suspended veteran Tariq Sims, who copped a one-week suspension for a late shot on Tigers half Josh Reynolds in his side's first-up loss in Wollongong last week.

It wasn't the first time he rattled Reynolds' cage in the match, with the 30-year-old seemingly back to his intimidating best after carrying crippling groin injuries through 2019.

It makes his absence a major blow for the Dragons as they look to avoid an 0-2 start, but McGregor says Fuimaono can play a similar role this week, with his selection placing him on a collision course with Panthers giant Viliame Kikau.

"It's been a big journey for T in the last three months," McGregor said.

"He came from Penrith last year, he didn't have a contract, he's trained really well, he's performed great. He had to do a job from the fifth minute last week as a centre but he's closer to the action on Friday night and deserving of his spot.

"Tariq's known as an enforcer. The way he plays, he got a week's suspension due to the tackle last week, but I expect nothing different from T.

"He'll bring the same attitude, that's why he's selected on that edge. He's a very hard player. He's got Kikau on that edge, it's a good challenge for him but he's a really tough player who's looking forward to that challenge."

Being in the 17 at all is a fair achievement for the 23-year-old who, as late as January, was working construction and without an NRL deal after being let go by the Panthers at the end of last season.

"Coming to a new club, especially in my position, you don't expect to be debuting for the club in round one," Fuimaono said.

"I only came in January so I missed the whole preseason pre-Christmas, I was working. I was stressing coming into Christmas not having a deal. Mum was asking 'if it doesn't happen what are you going to do next?'

"I had a few train and trial offers but, on the money, it didn't seem worth it. When footy stops the bills don't stop so I was working construction and that's how I was looking at it. If I couldn't get a deal I'd just go and work.

"This popped up, it was a two-year deal and a genuine opportunity for me to find my feet again. When it came I jumped at it. I think it's helped me out, being more appreciative of where I am and really wanting to make it work and make the most of this deal."

A Penrith junior, his time in limbo came after he was deemed surplus to requirements by the Panthers at the end of last season, stalling a career that started with so much promise with the Rabbitohs in 2017.

His return to the foot of the mountains was meant to be a glorious homecoming, but he says he won't be going out on Friday to settle any personal scores.

"I try not to get too caught up in it in a personal manner," he said.

"I'm just concentrating on what the coach wants and what the team needs not any personal vendetta against the [Panthers]. Getting tied up in that stuff will only take me away from what's going to work for us.

"They're coming off a win and we've got a lot of things to fix from last week so taking it personal is not the way to go about it. At the same time it is exciting, you always have a bit of a point to prove against a former club."

Fuimaono's first start is one of two "forced changes" for McGregor following Sims' suspension and the quad injury that forced Mikaele Ravalawa from the field after just five minutes last week.

With young-gun Jason Saab's preseason limited by foot and shoulder surgery, McGregor said shifting Zac Lomax - who was set to be the club's long-term No. 1 - to the wing and giving Matt Dufty his first game back from a broken cheekbone was the best option.

"It was due to Mika getting injured, it wasn't on form or anything else," McGregor said.

"Young Saaby is coming back from two serious injuries and had a limited preseason because of that. He's not ready yet.

"I think there would be some disappointment there for Zac but he hasn't shown it because it was a team-first decision. Duft is the next best person to come into the side.

"Duft's in a really good position to perform well because I've never seen him work so hard in a preseason. He's gone from someone who didn't really like training too much to over-training.

"His values around the team in terms of what needs to be done has improved out of sight so I'm expecting him to be really excited on Friday."

Penrith are coming off a round-one upset of the Roosters, while the Dragons will be looking to bounce back from a first-up loss to the Tigers, a match McGregor feels his side let slip.

"Our first 35 minutes was nice and controlled but we didn't finish the half well and our second half our finishes to our sets with our kicking and our last six kicks were all negative," he said.

"Our priorities this week are around getting the best kick possible. We made three clean opportunities with the line open and we need to finish them off and score the points.

"Our defence was an improvement but we want to play the game the right away and not have to make 120 more tackles than our opposition."