Selection Table: Cleary eyeing return; Trbojevic embracing new role

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary is confident son Nathan will be fit for Thursday's showdown with Canterbury as he looks to overcome a groin injury. 

The Panthers and Bulldogs will kick off Beanies for Brain Cancer Round at CommBank Stadium with Cleary named at halfback for a clash set to be played in front of a large and vocal crowd. 

The playmaker suffered a groin injury the day before last Wednesday's State of Origin clash. While he played for the Blues in Perth, Cleary was restricted and did not goal kick. 

Coach Ivan had already planned on resting his five Origin players for the Panthers' Round 16 clash with the Warriors in Auckland and Nathan returned to Sydney for rehab.

Penrith went on to win that game to climb inside the eight and set up a Thursday-night showdown with competition leaders Canterbury. 

Cleary has been named at halfback, with Brian To'o, Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin all slated to return for their club.

The group conducted a light session last weekend, before training with the team on Tuesday afternoon. While Cleary still needs to complete Wednesday's captain's run, it's expected he will take his place in the team on Thursday night. 

"He's just going to have to keep ticking the boxes," Ivan said. "We're very hopeful [he'll play]. 

"Since Origin he's just been progressing through his rehab and that's been going well. He's progressed through that nicely so fingers crossed [for Thursday]."

The Panthers aren't the only team preparing to welcome back their stars this weekend, with a host of big names returning to the field including: 

• Origin trio Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton and Max King are all back on deck for the Bulldogs. 
• South Sydney duo Cody Walker and Campbell Graham are on track to line up against the Dolphins. 
• Kristian Woolf will be without youngster Jack Bostock after scans confirmed an ACL tear. Junior Tupou comes into the side on the wing as his replacement. 
• Kurt Capewell and Rocco Berry return for the Warriors, with Capewell in the back row and Berry at centre.
• Xavier Coates returns for the Storm after being rested last weekend. 
• Cowboys coach Todd Payten has shaken up his spine in a bid to spark his side. Jake Clifford is back at five-eighth, with Jaxon Purdue shifting to the centres and NSW star Reece Robson returns at hooker. 
• Jacob Saifiti returns from a calf injury for the Knights, while Jackson Hastings has been named at five-eighth to replace the injured Fletcher Sharpe. 
• Tom Trbojevic will line up in the centres for the Sea Eagles, with Lehi Hopoate returning from a concussion at fullback. Reuben Garrick has shifted to the wing as part of the reshuffle. 

Trbojevic's shift comes as Manly coach Anthony Seibold looks to turn the team's performances around. 

The Sea Eagles lost to the Knights and Titans before last week's bye, with club officials conducting plenty of soul searching during the time off.

Talking to reporters on Monday, Trbojevic conceded the shift to centre will change the way he plays but he's confident it will help the Sea Eagles topple the Tigers on Friday night. 

"It's a decision that when you look at it, Lehi is a very good fullback," Trbojevic said. "I'm not unfamiliar with playing centre, I've done it before. It'll be a different challenge for me and one I'm excited for. 

"It's a different way to play footy, a different challenge. There's more of a defensive aspect to it in the front line but you can make it your own role and play it in different ways. That's how I'll go about it."