Coach Noel Dent said the trial would be a genuine selection audition for more than six players.

"We's got a fairly young squad and there are still probably four or five spots undecided, and this weekend will decide them," Dent said.

The Scorpions have had an unfortunate start to their 2012 campaign, losing key signings Ainsley Coxsedge and Kailem Perkins before the premiership kicked off.

Coxsedge, a NSW Country representative, suffered a neck injury while playing for South Newcastle last season, a week after signing with the Scorpions for 2012.

And Perkins, a promising young prop, has been recruited by the Newcastle Knights.

Dent said the loss of those key forwards meant an added responsibility for club captain and forward leader Danny Vaughan.

"Danny is the mainstay of our pack and the rock that this club is built around," Dent said.

"And this year we'll be looking for him to help develop our young forwards."

Among those young forwards is Brendan Simpson, a graduate from the Newcastle Knights under-20 team from 2011, and a back-rower who caught the coach's eye last Saturday night in a trial match against Cessnock.

"Brendan had some nice touches with the footy and I think he'll be a very good buy for us," Dent said.

The Scorpions scored four tries to Cessnock's six, and although the Scorpions showed plenty of promise, improvements were needed in defence and ball security, the coach said.

Saturday's trial matches at Peacock Field will start with the under-16s match at 10am.

The first grade match is set to kick off at 3pm.