The 19-year-old, who helped the South Coast Black Cockatoos win the Koori Knockout in 2019, will be thrown straight into a storm when the Dragons host Melbourne in their final match of the season.

Interim coach Dean Young won't ease Sullivan into the fold, with the Wests junior to start at five-eighth at the expense of an underperforming Corey Norman in a heavily reshuffled lineup.

It's no doubt a tough assignment, but the teenager's SG Ball coach is confident he will be up to the task.

"Everything that Sully gets, he earns and he deserves," Ben Linde, who with Sullivan helped the Steelers end a 23-year SG Ball drought in 2019, said.

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"He's worked so hard, he'll go really well this weekend. One thing he does well is he'll stick to a plan.

"He's got a really good balance of being able to stick to a plan and game manage and know when he see's an opportunity."

With their finals hopes evaporated, Young has tinkered with the squad in recent weeks.

That trend continued for Sunday's clash with the Storm, with forward Eddie Blacker to make his debut off the bench.

Cody Ramsey retains his place on the wing, while Max Feagai will feature in the starting side for the first time.

Just a week after he was handed 22 minutes off the interchange in his first NRL match, the outside back replaces Jordan Pereira in jumper number two.

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Group Seven pair Eaun Aitken (Shellharbour) and Adam Clune (Albion Park-Oak Flats) return from injury, the latter to partner with Sullivan in the halves.

Cameron McInnes remains at hooker after Ben Hunt was ruled out through injury and suspension.

The utility's hip injury is not expected to impact his State of Origin chances.

McInnes, the current Dragons skipper, has taken Sullivan under his wing since he commenced training with the top squad last May.

Having captained a Steelers side that also featured Feagai to an SG Ball premiership, many consider the teenager the future of the Dragons.

"I've said for a while that he's the future," Linde said.

"He's just willing to do what it takes. He can be a game manager or play off the cuff, he adapts to whatever the situation requires.

"He's a natural leader, he buys into the values and disciplines of a footy team.

"Some kids at that age try too hard when in leadership roles, it came natural to him."

Sullivan is signed with the club until the end of 2022, with his call up coming at the expense of Tristan Sailor.

Off-contract at the end of the year, it is unlikely the 22-year-old will remain with the club next season.

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In other contract news, the mooted player swap between Jason Saab and Gerringong's Reuben Garrick appears to be off the table.

Like Sailor, Sullivan is a smaller half that regularly takes on bigger bodies.

The Dragons have worked hard to add size to his slighter frame and Linde is confident the youngster will handle the increased physicality of the NRL.

"He's a brave kid, he's not scared of getting his body in front and taking the line on with the footy," Linde said.

"He has put some good size on in the past few years, so that will help him.

"He's got deceptive speed and great vision.

"He's been training with the first grade guys since after our SG Ball season last year, so he's been going up against the men on the training paddock."

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