After missing the opening two rounds, Cameron McInnes is likely to return to the field when the competition re-starts later this month. The shutdown period proved a blessing in disguise for St George Illawarra's captain, allowing him to recover from a knee injury suffered in mid-February.

It remains unclear who the Dragons will face in round three, as the NRL hasn't finalised the fixture for when play resumes. However, Red V forward James Graham said McInnes' return would be a huge bonus for his side.

"He's our captain, he's our leader. He inspires people around him with his actions," Graham said.

"He's going to be a massive inclusion and I'm really looking forward to playing with him again. He's an inspiration, Cam, and he puts everything out there and I can't wait to play for that team with him by my side again."

However, when asked if McInnes' inclusion would have helped the Dragons win their opening two games, Graham was doubtful.

"Cam's a very influential player, but we're not looking at it like that in terms of 'if Cam had played, we would have won'," the veteran said.

"We had a good enough 17, I feel, to get the points on both occasions but we didn't so we move on, we move forward. But with Cam available, we will be a better team - that's for sure."

Coach Paul McGregor agreed that McInnes was crucial but said the Dragons had five players unavailable for their season opener.

"We started round two with six [out], including a couple of key ones," he said.

"Obviously with Cameron being our captain and such a focal point of our football team, it's [huge] having him back. We really appreciate what he brings to the team.

"With 'Mika' [Mikaele Ravalawa] getting injured in round and Tariq [Sims] suspended in round two, we will get some quality back there. It gives us time to reset and reboot, and go again and have everyone available besides Jack [de Belin] at this stage for round three."

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With the competition re-start just around the corner, Graham hopes to put his best foot forward after expressing his desire to play on in 2021.

The prop, who has played more than 400 first grade games across the English Super League and NRL, is in the final season of a three-year deal with the Dragons.

The Englishman said there would be "a lot of variables" around whether he continued to play after this season.

"At the moment, the answer would be I'm veering more towards yes but I'm not naive enough to think that can't go to a no," the 34-year-old forward said.

"I've just got to concentrate on doing the best I can week by week and ideally earn myself a new deal at this club.

"I'd definitely like to commit to staying at the Dragons, that's who I play for now. I've no ambition to play for anyone else, this is where my efforts are."

The countdown may continue until Tyson Frizell becomes a Knight, however, teammate James Graham says fans shouldn't question his commitment to the Red V for the remainder of 2020.

In March, St George Illawarra took to social media to confirm Frizell's decision to depart the Dragons for Newcastle at the end of this season.

With the NRL set to re-start on May 28, Graham said the NSW Origin forward would remain committed to St George Illawarra's cause this 2020 season.

"There's one thing I can guarantee is Tyson is going to give everything while he's playing for this club," he said.

"I know that, I trust him to do that, I would never doubt that for one second. Players come and go from clubs it happens all the time. I myself moved teams. I would never question Tyson's commitment whatsoever, and it's part of being in a salary-cap based sport where transfers are allowed and this is the system... it's totally fine with me.

"My attitude towards Tyson will not change one bit and he will continue to be a friend after this season. I'm quite close with Tyson, he lives in the same area as me so I don't see why that would change.

"He's earned the respect of this playing group for a number of years. He's given his blood, sweat and tears for this club."