Greg Inglis, Ben Hunt, Michael Morgan and Andrew Fifita headline a list of big inclusions for the first week of the NRL finals.
Inglis’ return provides welcome relief for his South Sydney side who have been treading water over the last three weeks thanks to a combination of poor form, suspension (Issac Luke) and injury (John Sutton).
The club skipper had missed the last two games after undergoing knee surgery, with the reigning premiers losing both clashes and letting in 77 points as they limped into the finals in seventh spot.
The Rabbitohs will be relying on Inglis to provide some spark for their elimination final against Cronulla on Sunday with prop George Burgess suspended because of a bottle-throwing incident.
Cronulla meanwhile have been buoyed after Fifita overcame a calf tear which threatened to ruin his return from a club suspension.
The former NSW prop will be available for the first time in seven weeks after serving time on the sidelines for his run-in with a Penrith junior referee last month.
Utility Ben Barba has also been included on the Sharks’ bench after missing the previous three weeks with an ankle injury.
Both Brisbane and North Queensland received good news about their halves ahead of Saturday’s north of the border derby.
Broncos halfback Hunt returns after missing last week’s loss to Melbourne with a cork.
Coach Wayne Bennett will also welcome back Alex Glenn and Jordan Kahu.
The Cowboys have named five-eighth Morgan to return from an ankle problem but he will need to pass a final fitness test on Thursday.
Brett Morris will wear the Canterbury No.1 jersey after being rested last weekend.
St George Illawarra playmaker Gareth Widdop has not been included in the team to take on the Bulldogs in Saturday’s elimination final at Allianz Stadium.
Sydney Roosters half Mitchell Pearce has also not been named and is considered long odds to take on Melbourne on Friday night.
However back-rower Boyd Cordner said Pearce was making strong progress in his race to get back.
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