'Fire burning': Spark lit for Olakau'atu ahead of NRL return

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans has been worried for five-eighth Luke Brooks throughout the past couple of weeks. 

With edge forward Haumole Olakau'atu suspended, the NSW representative has trained with the reserves. 

For Brooks, that means he had the misfortunate of a fired up Olakau'atu running directly at him on a regular basis. 

So, if that's what Olakau'atu was willing to do at training, Cherry-Evans is even more concerned for Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange when the forward returns from suspension on Saturday afternoon.

"I don't like seeing him in the opposition side when we're training and neither does Brooksy," Cherry-Evans said. "He's come from the Tigers and had to tackle Haumole. 

"When Haumole's suspended he's on the right side against Brooksy. He thought he'd seen the last of him but he's still haunting him at training. 

"He's a classy player Haumole. I'm sure he's got a little bit of a fire burning from being dropped from Origin. I can certainly relate to that. The best thing you can do is go out there and just play good footy. That's the best answer."

A number of big names are back on deck across the league this weekend, with South Sydney halfback Cody Walker hoping to return from a calf injury that forced him out of last week's loss to Cronulla. 

Daine Laurie has been named to return for the Panthers, while Blayke Brailey has been selected as halfback for the Sharks after Braydon Trindall suffered a hamstring injury last Saturday. 

The reshuffle has seen Cameron McInnes shift to hooker and Jack Williams moving to lock. 

Olakau'atu will come straight back into the Sea Eagles starting side this weekend after a two-game suspension that stretched on for an extra week due to Manly's bye last weekend. 

The bye came at a good time for the Sea Eagles, with Reuben Garrick and Jason Saab both named to play on Saturday after suffering head knocks in their last game against the Roosters. 

Hooker Lachlan Croker is also set for his first match since Round 9 and has been named to start in jumper No.9, while winger Lehi Hopoate is also looking at an early return from an eye-socket fracture.

For the Raiders, Strange returns to the No.6 jumper after being rested for last week's loss to the Bulldogs, with Adam Cook shifting to the bench. Zac Hosking has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, with Simi Sasagi the new face on the interchange. 

Olakau'atu admits it was a long three weeks to spend on the sidelines but he's optimistic the suspension has allowed him to recharge before a five-week run to the finals.