Selection table: Panthers stars return; Roosters axe Townsend

NSW Origin and Kangaroos fullback Dylan Edwards is set to return for Penrith as the four-time premiers aim to get back into the winner's circle against the Dolphins on Thursday night.

Edwards suffered a groin injury in the Round 2 loss to Sydney Roosters and has been forced to watch from the sideline as the Panthers crashed to four consecutive losses, but he has been named in the No.1 jersey for the trip to Brisbane.

Other key changes for Round 6 teams include:

• Veteran Roosters halfback Chad Townsend being axed for rookie Hugo Savala;
• Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell to captain the team and play five-eighth;
• Jarome Luai (suspension) and Jeral Skelton (hamstring) to return for Wests Tigers, and;
• Former All Black Tyrone Thompson to make his NRL debut for the injury hit Knights.  

Kiwis second rower Scott Sorensen (concussion protocols) also returns for Penrith, while off-season recruit Blaize Talagi will partner Nathan Cleary in the halves after five-eighth Jack Cole suffered a headknock in last weekend's loss to the Cowboys.

Hooker Mitch Kenny is also out with a shoulder injury and has been replaced by Luke Sommerton.

The Dolphins welcome back captain Tom Gilbert from suspension as they aim to achieve back-to-back wins after their first victory of the season against the Titans in last Saturday night’s south-east Queensland derby.

South Sydney have offset the loss of halves Cody Walker and Jamie Humphreys (both hamstring) with the return of internationals Alex Johnston and Euan Aitken in a new look backline to play the Cowboys in Perth on Saturday.

Mitchell will captain the Rabbitohs in Walker’s absence and also wear his No.6 jersey after shifting into the five-eight role for the second half of last Friday night’s epic 20-14 defeat of the Roosters.

Mitchell, who produced the match winning try with a 20-metre cut-out pass in his first appearance for nine months, will be partnered in the halves by Jayden Sullivan, who was thrust into action after just seven minutes when Humphries became the first of three Rabbitohs to suffer hamstring injuries.

Fijian winger Mikaele Ravalawa was the third Souths player injured and Johnston will continue his quest to become the greatest tryscorer in premiership history after returning from a rib injury on the left wing.

Aitken, who followed supercoach Wayne Bennett from the Dolphins to Souths, will make his official Rabbitohs debut in the centres after suffering a pectoral muscle injury during the pre-season.

With Sullivan moving from the interchange to halfback, forward Liam Le Blanc is the other new face in the squad and has been named on the bench.

The Rabbitohs are one of four teams with a new halfback this weekend, along with the Roosters, Tigers and Knights, who have shifted Phoenix Crossland from hooker following the loss of Jack Cogger (dislocated finger).

Prop Jacob Saifiti (calf), lock Adam Elliott (), winger James Schiller (head knock) and interchange forward Jack Hetherington (shoulder) were also injured in last Sunday night’s match against the Bulldogs.

They are replaced by English second-rower Kai Pearce-Paul, rookie winger Kyle McCarthy, utility Matt Arthur and Thompson – the twin of Kiwis prop Leo Thompson – for Sunday's match against Wests Tigers in Newcastle. Jayden Brailey will start at hooker.

The Roosters welcome back England international Victor Radley, while Olympic rugby 7s convert Mark Nawaqanitawase has been named in the extended squad and could replace English winger Dom Young if cleared to return from a calf injury.

Savala, 20, has been named for his NRL starting debut in place of Townsend after three appearances from the interchange bench.  

Sharks forwards Teig Wilton (illness) and Siosifa Talakai (concussion protocols) will return against the Sea Eagles in Perth on Saturday.