Sharks finally ready to roll out best 13

Cronulla star Josh Dugan is set to return from a leg injury against Manly, meaning the Sharks will have their best starting team available again.

Wade Graham

Wade Graham is among the big names back this weekend for Cronulla against Manly. (AAP)

Cronulla are on the verge of trotting out their strongest starting 13 for just the second time this season with Josh Dugan on track to return from a leg injury against Manly on Sunday.

The Sharks have endured a horror run of injuries this year, with Dugan, Paul Gallen, Wade Graham and Luke Lewis each having spent a significant amount of time on the sidelines.

Dugan hasn't played for the Sharks since round 12 due to a stress fracture in his left leg.

The 28-year-old was named on an extended bench for the Sharks earlier this week but has got through training fine and is now expected to return in either the centres or on the wing, with Valentine Holmes set to keep his spot at fullback.

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan has also confirmed expectant father Wade Graham will join Dugan at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Sunday, after missing last week's loss to Brisbane with a rib injury.

"Wade is back, Duges is back," Flanagan told reporters on Friday.

"As long as Wade's partner doesn't decide to have the baby on Sunday afternoon everything should be good

"We probably could have pushed Wade to play last week but with the baby and an injury concern going into the tail-end of the season, a week just gave him the opportunity to get over the injury and he will be good to go.

"Josh has done everything he needs to do. He trained well last night. (He's) got a captain's run to get through, but touch wood he'll be there."

The last time the Sharks fielded such a strong side was in round six against St George Illawarra, where they lost Graham, Gallen, Lewis and Andrew Fifita all to injuries in their 40-20 defeat.

They've still manage to be sixth headed into the run home, but Flanagan has long spoken about the exciting prospect of having a number of his players fresh at the right end of the season as something of a silver lining.

"It's really important the next phase for us, that we can win possibly five-from-five and get into that top four," he said.

"We've had our moments within games but haven't put 80 minutes together but hopefully it's coming."


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Source: AAP


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