Barely 24 hours after confirming Tonie Carroll would make a surprise comeback, the Broncos have named the former international on an extended bench for Friday night's NRL clash with the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium.

Justin Hodges will also make a long-awaited comeback from a knee injury after being named in the starting line-up.

Carroll, 33, drew the curtain on his career at the end of the 2008 season after 216 first grade games for the Broncos.

But he has come out of retirement to help his battling NRL team for the rest of the season.

However, Carroll was not expected to run out until their following clash against South Sydney after the Broncos lodged his registration with the NRL on Monday.

Instead, the Broncos named Carroll on a five man interchange for the Warriors showdown.

Carroll will have his first training run on Wednesday morning.

Hodges will play his first game since suffering a knee injury in the Origin I clash in Melbourne following his failed bid to run out in the last round against Parramatta.

Hodges has been named in the centres with Steve Michaels for the Warriors game.

Hodges' return and Carroll's comeback could not have come at a better time for the struggling Broncos.

They have crashed out of the top eight with four straight losses.

Earlier, Brisbane received good news with Karmichael Hunt named in the team after being cleared of a major ankle injury.

And the club's other medical report was equally well received with prop Nick Kenny cleared of a season-ending knee injury after both players had scans on Monday.

Broncos coach Ivan Henjak named Hunt with youngster Josh Hoffman on the bench as back-up.

There were fears Kenny's season could be over after he was taken from the field in the 11th minute against the Eels with a badly-twisted knee.

But he was diagnosed with a partial medial ligament tear and could be back playing in round 20 against the Gold Coast Titans.

In other news, Israel Folau returns from a sternum injury.

Broncos: Karmichael Hunt, Antonio Winterstein, Steve Michaels, Justin Hodges, Israel Folau, Darren Lockyer (capt), Peter Wallace, Josh McGuire, Andrew McCullough, Joel Clinton, Alex Glenn, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Guy Williams, Lagi Setu, Tonie Carroll, Josh Hoffman, David Taylor.

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