Manly star Glenn Stewart is poised for an emotional Brookvale Oval farewell next week in the Sea Eagles' final home game of the year in his return from a long-term ankle injury.
Stewart hasn't played since Manly's 54-18 round-eight thumping of Canberra in April.
But the two-time premiership winner began running again on Wednesday and is set to be fit for next week's round-25 clash with Penrith, in what shapes as his last game in Sea Eagles colours at Brookie before his move to South Sydney next year.
Given the acrimonious nature of his departure from Manly, the Sunday afternoon match shapes as an emotional one for Stewart's teammates and fans.
Manly coach Geoff Toovey said on Thursday that Stewart would likely be fit for the Panthers, in a match sure to have a big impact on the final make-up of the top eight.
"Glenn is running now and we are hoping he will be back for the last home game, but we will have to wait and see," Toovey said.
"He is running though and that is a good sign.
"Obviously, we would have liked it to have been a bit quicker but, the quicker we can get him back on the field, the better."
Stewart's departure has split the Sea Eagles' playing ranks with his brother Brett, Steve Matai and Anthony Watmough all reportedly requesting early releases from their contracts due to dissatisfaction with club management over the saga.
Glenn Stewart has spent 12 seasons at Brookvale and, when his move to Redfern was announced in April, fans responded by cheering through the 13th minute of the following game against the Raiders at Brookvale Oval, in a tribute to the Clive Churchill medal-winning No.13.
Teammate Jamie Buhrer said Manly were keen for Stewart to get some football under his belt in the lead-up to the finals.
"It was a good sign this week to see him running. We were training yesterday and we could see him running on the side and there were plenty of boys yelling out offering him encouragement," Buhrer said.
"He has been a big part of this side for a long time so, the sooner we get him back, the better - not only for us as a team but for him as an individual, to get some game time under his belt before the semi-finals."
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