Parramatta winger Eric Grothe is set to make his comeback to first grade rugby league when the Eels take on the Warriors in round one of the NRL at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

Grothe will also celebrate a personal milestone on Saturday when he earns his 100th cap for the Eels, a mark which looked a long way off when he was dropped from the side in round 12 last year.

The 28-year-old spotted his name on the team sheet on Monday afternoon prior to training and said he couldn't wait to get back in to top flight footy after an extended lay-off.

"It's been a long time ... I didn't play much first grade towards the end of last year," Grothe said.

"Ando (coach Daniel Anderson) just wrote the team up on the board then and that was it.

"Looks like I'm going to New Zealand."

Eels coach Anderson gave Grothe the nod during the preseason where he lined up against the Panthers in his first match since a four-game stint with NSW Cup side Wentworthville.

Time out of the NRL seems to have sparked a renewed hunger in the enigmatic back.

"You always doubt yourself when you're not playing real well, all kinds of negative things run through your head," Grothe said.

"I knew if I applied myself off the field and as far as training and stuff goes I'd be ok.

"I just had a bit of a rotten year.

"The bottom line is I just want to play first grade ... you want to play good for your teammates first and foremost and if the fans are happy, that's a bonus too."

Grothe said the Eels had been working exceptionally hard at training and were going to watch video analysis of the Warriors in preparation for the round one clash.

"We're about to go and look at those big angry monsters and how they play the game," he said with a grin.

"Looking forward to running in to brick walls again, it'll be good."

Eels halfback Brett Finch welcomed Grothe's inclusion in the side.

"Eric's a very good friend of mine, he's one of the guys who's been training really hard, his attitude's a lot better and when he's playing well he makes such a difference to our team," Finch said.

"He's such a big powerful player and he really gets our sets going forward.

"It's good to have him back."

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