Sydney Roosters have been given a huge boost prior to Friday’s NRL grand-final rematch, with Jake Friend and Sonny Bill Williams named to make their return.
Williams has been named for his fifth game of the year for the Roosters after missing last week’s qualifying final with a neck injury.
Co-captain Friend is also down to play Canberra after missing the 29-28 loss to Penrith at Panthers Stadium last week.
While there are still question marks over Williams’ fitness heading into the do-or-die clash at the SCG, Friend is a certainty to take the field with last week’s replacement Freddy Lussick left out of the side.
Should Williams play it will be his first NRL finals match since the 2014 preliminary finals loss to South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.
“Hopefully they’re both back. They bring that experience,” centre Josh Morris said.
“With Sonny as well, his ball-playing ability … just that X-factor he brings off the bench. We could really use that.”
The Roosters will face an unchanged Raiders side from their 32-20 win over Cronulla last weekend.
Meanwhile, Parramatta will give winger Blake Ferguson every chance to play South Sydney at Bankwest Stadium in Saturday’s elimination final.
The NSW Blues star has been battling an ongoing knee issue that ended his night early in Saturday’s loss to Melbourne.
The Eels had a light session on Tuesday but Ferguson did not train with the side.
On the other edge, George Jennings has been named as replacement for star winger Maika Sivo.
The club confirmed earlier this week that Sivo’s season is over with an MCL injury.
It comes as a blow to the side, with the winger having scored 24 tries in 23 games at Bankwest Stadium over the past two seasons.
The Eels will face an unchanged South Sydney team from the one that thumped Newcastle 46-20 at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.