A fuel nozzle centering assembly and method employ bodies of a substantially wearable and sacrificial material mounted to an outer periphery of a tip of a burner fuel nozzle for a gas turbine combustor. The tip of the fuel nozzle extends through an opening of an annular collar attached to a liner of a main combustion chamber of the gas turbine combustor and an outer periphery of the tip is disposed radially inwardly from the annular collar such that the bodies of sacrificial material are disposed between the outer periphery of the fuel nozzle tip and the annular collar of the liner and space the fuel nozzle tip from the liner collar. The bodies of material prevent the fuel nozzle tip from contacting the liner collar during assembling of the fuel nozzle into the liner. The bodies wear away substantially upon initial operation of the combustor such that the bodies will reduce contact with the liner collar during further operation of the combustor and the fuel nozzle tip will remain spaced from and out of contact with the liner collar during operation of the combustor.