Having also won an Illawarra Premier League title with Bulli, the defender knows what it takes to nail a competition.

So when Knight saw the team Wolves coach Luke Wilkshire was assembling for the 2022 season, he knew he had to be a part of it.

The 28-year-old returned to Bulli to play in the IPL this year but, with a desire to test himself against the state's top footballers, Knight will be back in the red and white next year.

"My goal with my football is to enjoy myself and to build a team that enjoys playing with each other," Knight said. "In 2019 we had a bunch of players that went to battle for each other.

"It is hard to get a squad as tight as that squad, but if this squad is as tight, we have the ability to be up the top.

"There's some real firepower up front, experience at the back, good depth and a good balance between senior players and younger guys.

"We've got a squad that's as good, if not better than any squad I've been a part of. There's no excuse for us not to be winning the league."

Wilkshire has overhauled the roster for next year, eight players departing after a disappointing season.

Ex-Wolves Peter Simonoski and Josh Macdonald arrive from Sutherland and Sydney United 58 respectively, while Nick Littler also returns to the club after a year with Bulli.

The experienced defender was a key figure in Wollongong's 2019 and 2020 success, the side conceding just 17 goals in 22 matches in their title-winning season.

Read more: White Eagles prepare to soar next Illawarra Premier League season

With a young family and a new job as a nurse unit manager, Littler needed a break from the intensity of the NPL this year.

That time off, however, has made him even more determined to lead the Wolves to silverware in 2022.

"The main thing for me is the competitiveness," Littler said. "I think I've still got the quality in me and I felt as though I wasn't pushing myself as hard as I could have.

"Luke was happy to have me back, the time was right to step back up and test myself again.

"This team would give that 2019 team a run for their money. If we're not challenging for the title, then it's going to be a disappointing year."

While Knight and Littler will add starch at the back, Wilkshire is hoping their impact will spread beyond the pitch.

With multiple veterans stepping away last year, the coach fielded a young and inexperienced team each week.

Many of those players, including Bilal Belkadi and Nav Darjani, have bright futures and will benefit from time on the pitch. Wilkshire, however, concedes the team lacked leadership and composure at times.

Knight captained the Wolves throughout much of the 2020 season and the coach is confident his experience will benefit the squad next year.

"Knighty is composed, he's a leader on and off the pitch," Wilkshire said.

"His defensive capabilities with and without the ball are an important link between the back-third and midfield.

"Litts is a ball-playing centre-back. He reads the game well, he's experienced, he's a leader, he's got a physical presence. He has all the attributes of a top centre-back."

The Illawarra Mercury news app is now officially live on both iOS and Android devices. It is available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play.