Luke Metcalf is set to make his comeback well ahead of schedule with the Warriors star chosen in the squad to face the Wests Tigers.
Sidelined since June last year after suffering a torn ACL, the outstanding playmaker has been named by head coach Andrew Webster in the No. 6 jersey.
In-form Tanah Boyd retains the halfback spot after a scintillating start to the season.
Metcalf will be put through his paces at training on Wednesday with a final decision on his comeback to be determined in the hours prior to kick-off on Friday night.
Luke Hanson drops out of the squad, while Chanel Harris-Tavita is on the extended bench as he aims to return from concussion.
SUPERCOACH WINNERS FROM TEAMS
* Adam Doueihi – Cleared of a serious hamstring injury and named for the Tigers.
* Tanah Boyd – Luke Metcalf is back early from an ACL injury on the extended bench but Boyd retains his spot in the starting side and is still a strong SuperCoach buy.
* Fletcher Sharpe – Named to return despite aggravating a PCL injury last week.
SUPERCOACH LOSERS FROM TEAMS
* Payne Haas – Ruled out for the Broncos with an AC joint injury.
* Ativalu Lisati – Out until round 7 with a calf injury.
* Ryan Couchman – Out for the Dragons. We await tonight’s judiciary hearing where he is expected to cop at least six weeks for a hip drop that ruptured J’Maine Hopgood’s ACL.
* Tom Chester and Trey Mooney – Both have taken early guilty pleas and will miss a week.
* J’Maine Hopgood – Out for the season due to an ACL injury.
* Toby Couchman – Will miss this week due to concussion. With price drops to come, he’s a sell.
* Souths players – David Fifita, Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Cameron Murray and Keaon Koloamatangi are among the popular SuperCoach players on the bye
MANLY GIANT ON VERGE OF DEBUT
Manly monster Simione Lafai is a step closer to achieving his NRL dream with the teenager named on Anthony Seibold’s extended bench for their huge clash against the Roosters at 4 Pines Park on Thursday night.
Lafai’s elevation into Seibold’s 22-man squad has emerged at the expense of veteran prop Sio Siua Taukeiaho, who has suffered a recurring calf strain.
The 19-year-old, who weighs 116kg and stands at 191cm, is a former Australian Schoolboys prop who progressed rapidly through Manly’s junior representative pathways to play five games in the NSW Cup last year.
NRL ROUND FOUR TEAMS
SEA EAGLES v ROOSTERS
Thursday March 26, 8pm, 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Kobe Hetherington 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic.
Interchange: 14. Brandon Wakeham 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Paul Bryan 18. Simione Laiafi 19. Josh Feledy
Reserves: 20. Joey Walsh 21. Clayton Faulalo 22. D’jazirhae Pua’avase
Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Egan Butcher
Interchange: 14. Connor Watson 15. Blake Steep 16. Nat Butcher 17. Salesi Foketi 18. Cody Ramsey 19. Hugo Savala
Reserves: 20. Benaiah Ioelu 21. Tom Rodwell 22. Taylor Losalu
WARRIORS v WESTS TIGERS
Friday March 27, 6pm, Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Warriors
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Samuel Healey 15. Mitchell Barnett 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith 18. Marata Niukore 20. Chanel Harris-Tavita
Reserves: 21. Taine Tuaupiki 22. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 23. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Wests Tigers
1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Jeral Skelton 4. Heamasi Makasini 5. Luke Laulilii 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Alex Twal
Interchange: 14. Tristan Hope 15. Sione Fainu 16. Royce Hunt 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Bunty Afoa 19. Faaletino Tavana
Reserves: 20. Tony Sukkar 21. Latu Fainu 22. Patrick Herbert
BRONCOS v DOLPHINS
Friday March 27, 8pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Broncos
1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Grant Anderson 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Xavier Willison 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan.
Interchange: 14. Ben Hunt 15. Ben Talty 16. Aublix Tawha 17. Gehamat Shibasaki 18. Jaiyden Hunt 19. Blake Mozer
Reserves: 20. Jesse Arthars 21. Thomas Duffy 22. Va’a Semu
Dolphins
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Tom Gilbert 9. Max Plath 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles
Interchange: 14. Brad Schneider 15. Thomas Flegler 16. Oryn Keeley 17. Ray Stone 18. Trai Fuller 19. Francis Molo
Reserves: 20. Lewis Symonds 21. Tevita Naufahu 22. Brian Pouniu
BULLDOGS v KNIGHTS
Saturday March 28, 3pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney
Bulldogs
1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Enari Tuala 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Sitili Tupouniua 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon
Interchange: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Josh Curran 16. Lipoi Hopoi 17. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Jonathan Sua 20. Fletcher Baker
Reserves: 21. Logan Spinks 22. Jack Underhill 23. Bronson Xerri
Knights
1. Fletcher Hunt 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Tyson Frizell 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Mathew Croker
Interchange: 14. Thomas Cant 15. Pasami Saulo 16. Cody Hopwood 17. Francis Manuleleua 18. Tyson Gamble 19. Harrison Graham
Reserves: 20. Elijah Leaumoana 21. James Schiller 22. Wilson de Courcey
PANTHERS v EELS
Saturday March 28, 5:30pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Paul Alamoti 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange: 14. Jack Cogger 15. Billy Phillips 16. Scott Sorensen 17. Luke Garner 18. Izack Tago 19. Freddy Lussick
Reserves: 20. Kalani Going 21. Jack Cole 22. Jaxen Edgar
Eels
1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Brian Kelly 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Dylan Walker
Interchange: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Luca Moretti 18. Charlie Guymer 19. Joash Papali’i
Reserves: 20. Jack de Belin 21. Teancum Brown 22. Araz Nanva
COWBOYS v STORM
Saturday March 28, 7:35pm, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Coen Hess 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Sam McIntyre 13. Reuben Cotter
Interchange: 14. Soni Luke 15. Kai O’Donnell 16. Griffin Neame 17. Harrison Edwards 18. Tom Mikaele 19. Liam Sutton
Reserves: 20. Kaiden Lahrs 21. Matthew Lodge 22. Robert Derby
Storm
1. Sua Fa’alogo 2. Will Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Moses Leo 5. Nick Meaney 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Joe Chan 12. Alec MacDonald 13. Trent Loiero
Interchange: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Cooper Clarke 16. Tui Kamikamica17. Davvy Moale 18. Jack Hetherington 19. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown
Reserves: 20. Lazarus Vaalepu 21. Manaia Waitere 22. Trent Toelau
RAIDERS v SHARKS
Sunday March 29, 4:05pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra
Raiders
1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Morgan Smithies 9. Tom Starling 10. Joe Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Noah Martin 13. Corey Horsburgh.
Interchange: 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Zac Hosking 16. Ata Mariota 17. Joe Roddy 18. Daine Laurie 19. Jed Stuart
Reserves: 20. Owen Pattie 21. Matthew Timoko 22. Chevy Stuart
Sharks
1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Thomas Hazelton 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jesse Colquhoun
Interchange: 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Toby Rudolf 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha
Reserves: 20. Chris Veaila 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Mawene Hiroti
TITANS v DRAGONS
Sunday March 29, 6:15pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Titans
1. Keano Kini 2. Sialetili Faeamani 3. Jojo Fifita 4. Max Feagai 5. Phillip Sami 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Arama Hau 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall
Interchange: 14. Kurtis Morrin 15. Tukimihia Simpkins 16. Klese Haas 17. Cooper Bai 18. Lachlan Ilias 19. Josh Patston
Reserves: 20. Jaylan de Groot 21. Oliver Pascoe 22. Jett Liu
Dragons
1. Clint Gutherson 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Setu Tu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Daniel Atkinson 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Hamish Stewart
Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Hame Sele 16. Jacob Halangahu 17. Loko Pasifiki Tonga 18. Josh Kerr 19. Hayden Buchanan
Reserves: 20. Tyrell Sloan 21. Ryan Hutchinson 22. Lyhkan King-Togia