Parramatta skipper Nathan Cayless will make his return from injury for Friday's NRL blockbuster with the Wests Tigers, but star Eel Feleti Mateo has been overlooked and sent to the NSW Cup.

Cayless missed last Saturday's 40-4 win over the Warriors with a calf strain, but will return this week to lead the Eels into their biggest clash of the season against fellow form side the Tigers.

The World Cup-winning Kiwi Test captain will come straight into the front row, with Tim Mannah dropping back to the bench and Broderick Wright out for up to two weeks and to undergo an arthroscope on damaged knee cartilage.

Mateo hasn't played since rupturing his bicep in round 10, but will be forced to make his return in the NSW Cup for Wentworthville against Central Coast at Morrie Breen Oval on Saturday.

With the Eels riding a five-game winning streak to sit in ninth place on the table, Mateo is one of eight players with NRL experience forced into the NSW Cup side this weekend.

The others are Etu Uaisele, Jonathan Wright, Taulima Tautai, Kris Keating, Junior Paulo, Weller Hauraki and Brendan Oake.

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