The long wait is almost over for Josh Dugan.
The Cronulla star is poised to end two months on the sidelines nursing a leg injury after being included in the Sharks squad for Sunday's NRL clash with Manly.
Dugan has been named 18th man - with Valentine Holmes retained at fullback - after overcoming leg stress fractures suffered eight weeks ago.
Sharks co-captain Wade Graham (groin) has also been welcomed back.
Dugan had cemented the Sharks fullback role before he first felt the leg injury late in their round 12 clash with Newcastle in late May.
However, it remains to be seen where Dugan will be injected into the Cronulla backline if he returns after Holmes' stunning form at fullback in his absence.
Meanwhile, NSW forward Reagan Campbell-Gillard may also end his own lengthy injury stint.
The Blues enforcer has been named 18th man for Penrith's NRL clash with Canberra on Sunday, six weeks after breaking his jaw against Sydney Roosters.
The Panthers have retained Tyrone Peachey at fullback.
They take on a Raiders outfit that has welcomed back Aidan Sezer (hamstring) in the halves, shifting Blake Austin to the centres and Elliott Whitehead back to the second-row in a re-jigged 17.
Ryan Matterson has held out Sean O'Sullivan to be named at five-eighth for Sydney Roosters' Saturday night clash with North Queensland, replacing Luke Keary (knee).
Keary has been ruled out for up to a month with a knee medial strain suffered in Sunday's 32-16 win over St George Illawarra.
The Roosters' Queensland prop Dylan Napa (knee) returns from injury on the bench.
The Cowboys have named former Test prop Matt Scott in the starting front row with John Asiata on the bench but are otherwise unchanged after their rare win last round over Newcastle.
At Melbourne, backrower Ryan Hoffman (shoulder) returns for Friday night's heavyweight clash with an unchanged South Sydney.
At the Warriors, hooker Isaac Luke (calf), back-rower Tohu Harris (knee) and lock Adam Blair (suspension) are back for Saturday's clash with an unchanged Dragons.
At Newcastle, Connor Watson (groin) returns to replace Jack Cogger at five-eighth in Friday's clash with Wests Tigers.
At Parramatta, Jarryd Hayne shifts back to centre after the return of winger George Jennings (groin) for Saturday's clash with Gold Coast Titans.
In other news touch judge Ricky MacFarlane and assistant referee Gavin Reynolds have again missed out on NRL fixtures.
It is the second straight week the pair have been overlooked in the wake of Cronulla's controversial round 19 win over Canberra.
