Manly playmaker Kieran Foran says he cannot wait to take the field against Darren Lockyer when he makes his long-awaited NRL return from injury against Brisbane on Sunday.

Foran has been named to play in the centres for the clash against the Broncos with Jamie Lyon sidelined due to a high ankle sprain and Steve Matai serving the second match of a three-game ban.

Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler selected the New Zealand international for last week's game against North Queensland, but Foran sat the game out to ensure the hamstring injury, that has sidelined him since round 10, was fully recovered in time for the Brisbane game.

"It's coming along good, I had the extra week to make extra sure and I should be right for Sunday," Foran said.

"It was a grade two tear of the hamstring and I just wanted to give it some extra time to just get it right and I can't wait, I've missed almost a month of footy and can't wait to go.

"I haven't played against Brisbane at club level and looking forward to playing against Darren Lockyer, who is in great form at the moment."

Foran has been named in the centres with Dean Whare, the former St George Illawarra junior, who ran in a first-half hat-trick on debut in Townsville in Manly's 24-20 win over the Cowboys.

Newcastle coach Rick Stone welcomes back NSW winger James McManus, who has played just one game since making his debut for the Blues in last year's State of Origin opener in Melbourne.

McManus, who has been out for almost a year with a foot injury, is restored to the Knights' starting line-up alongside Adam MacDougall and Jarrod Mullen who have recovered from thumb and ankle injuries respectively, for Saturday's clash with Penrith.

McManus and MacDougall will replace injured backs Cooper Vuna (ankle) and Keith Lulia (knee).

Stone has also named skipper Kurt Gidley at halfback with Wes Naiqama starting at fullback.

NSW selectors will be keen to see how Gidley performs at No.7, amid speculation the Blues may move him into the halves for the second State of Origin match to accommodate Jarryd Hayne at fullback.

Elsewhere, Parramatta coach Daniel Anderson has kept faith with the side who were humbled 30-0 by St George Illawarra at Kogarah last Friday.

The inconsistent Eels have Nathan Hindmarsh available after the veteran second-rower was controversially ruled out of the Dragons clash with a chest injury sustained in the warm-up.

The Warriors welcome back three key players for Sunday's meeting with the Dragons in Auckland but have been set back by injury again, with halfback Brett Seymour ruled out for a month.

While loose forward Micheal Luck, half James Maloney and winger Manu Vatuvei return - the latter for his 100th NRL match - the Warriors will be missing Seymour for the match in Auckland after he was diagnosed with a leg fracture.

Maloney will take Seymour's spot at halfback while Isaac John will make his first NRL appearance of the year, at five-eighth.

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