Addo-Carr named to make Bulldogs return before Origin

Josh Addo-Carr's bid to pull off a miracle comeback and put himself in the frame for State of Origin I is on track, after being named to return for Canterbury.

Five weeks after suffering a syndesmosis injury and requiring surgery, Addo-Carr is set to make his return against the Warriors on Friday night at Accor Stadium.

The flying winger's comeback will give him two matches before NSW coach Brad Fittler names his side for State of Origin, catapulting himself back into contention.

Left out by the Blues last season, Addo-Carr is now firming to play on one wing, with Brian To'o on the other, after a dominant World Cup for Australia late last year.

There had initially been fears Addo-Carr would not return until next month from his syndesmosis injury, but the 27-year-old has long been adamant he could come back early.

"It's crazy because when he did it he said he would come back in four weeks and everyone was just like, 'yeah, yeah'," fellow Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz said this week.

"Everyone knows what he is like. But it's a credit to him, he has worked so hard."

Addo-Carr's return looms as the biggest of round 11.

Wests Tigers second-rower John Bateman is also set to return, named to face South Sydney on Saturday after a hamstring injury made him a late withdrawal in Magic Round.

Zac Lomax is still on the outer at St George Illawarra, with the strike centre again omitted from the team to face North Queensland after being dropped last week.

Jayden Sullivan is again listed to come off the bench, meaning the experiment of moving Ben Hunt from half to hooker midway through the match is likely to continue.

Manly coach Anthony Seibold has also opted to leave Josh Schuster in the reserves, named on an extended bench in No.21 as the Sea Eagles continue to try and recondition the five-eighth.

Cooper Johns is listed to again start at No.6 against Cronulla.

Sam Walker has also been left in the reserves at the Sydney Roosters, with Trent Robinson set to keep Joey Manu alongside Luke Keary in the halves against Penrith.

Liam Martin is likely to be another week away, named in the reserves for the Panthers but no guarantee to return as Origin I nears.

Newcastle have resisted the urge for changes in their halves with Kalyn Ponga to remain at No.6, despite calls from Andrew Johns to return him to fullback.

Phoenix Crossland will play hooker for the Knights against Gold Coast with Kurt Mann out (abdominal), while Adam Elliott returns from a groin injury suffered in round one.

Jake Arthur will start at halfback for Parramatta in place of the concussed Mitch Moses against a Canberra side that has left out Xavier Savage and put Albert Hopoate back on the wing.

The Warriors have also made changes in their halves, with Ronald Volkman to play No.6 and Dylan Walker shifting back to the bench.