High-flying St George Illawarra will welcome back star centre pairing Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper in its bid for a record-equalling eighth straight win against Canberra on Sunday.
Gasnier was yesterday named to return from a back injury and will slot into the centres alongside Matt Cooper, who returns from State of Origin duty.
The return of the star pair, and the form of wingers Jason Nightingale and Josh Morris, means dual-international Wendell Sailor will return to the lower grades, most likely with Burleigh Bears in the Queensland Cup.
Gasnier and Cooper boost a side already brimming with confidence and surging up the table on the back of seven straight wins.
If the Dragons win on Sunday it will equal the streak they set in their run to the finals in 2005.
Halfback Ben Hornby welcomed the return of his star teammates but played down the impact they would have on the team.
''We've covered for them in the past and we feel comfortable with or without them,'' Hornby said.
''But we get them back this week and hopefully with our full side out there we can get away with a win.
''We're not surprised with the way we are going but obviously we are all happy around here at the moment but we want to keep climbing.''
The Dragons had hoped to have Ben Creagh back from a knee injury but he was not named yesterday.
Nathan Brown's side will face an unchanged Canberra team from the one that lost to Melbourne, with hooker Glen Buttriss (knee) the only injury concern.
Meanwhile, Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes has put his faith in exciting teenager Arana Taumata to steer his side out of its dismal form.
Taumata was yesterday named at halfback for Sunday's match with Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium alongside the returning Daniel Holdsworth, with Kiwi international Ben Roberts relegated to the bench.
The Bulldogs also welcome back Chris Armit and Reni Maitua. But they face a daunting task with halves Darren Lockyer and Peter Wallace named to return for the Broncos.
Hours after his first appearance on the training paddock in more than a month, Lockyer was named by Broncos coach Wayne Bennett along with Wallace (groin), who is also on the comeback trail.
''The verdict at the moment is I'm playing unless there's a major hiccup between now and Sunday,'' Lockyer said.
''It was wet ... but yeah it was good. I was a bit nervous coming to training but I needed to get out there and do that sort of thing for my confidence.
''Hopefully as the week progresses it will just continue building more and more.''
Newcastle coach Brian Smith has named Knights 'Mr Fix It' Kurt Gidley at hooker in place of injured captain Danny Buderus for Friday night's clash against Penrith.
Panthers coach Matthew Elliott has kept faith in his young side which beat Parramatta, with 18-year-old Lachlan Coote hanging on to his place on the wing despite Michael Gordon named to make his return from injury on the bench.
The injury-blitzed Titans have been forced to make several changes with young winger Jordan Rapana making his debut for Brent Bowen (fractured cheek).
Coach John Cartwright has also called on Ipswich Queensland Cup centre Gavin Cooper to replace Luke O'Dwyer, with Kyogle Turkeys junior Will Matthews making his starting debut in the second-row alongside Anthony Laffranchi for Mark Minichiello (ankle). AAP
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