Gareth Widdop is set to make his NRL return for St George Illawarra against the Wests Tigers on Saturday.

Widdop was named on an extended bench for the Dragons on Tuesday, but it's understood the club's skipper needs only to get through training to return from a knee injury.

Gareth Widdop is helped from the field during the clash against the Roosters on Anzac Day Credit:Mark Kolbe

He trained through a full contact session in Wollongong on Wednesday, while replacement half Kurt Mann was sent back to the wing in the best sign yet that Widdop will play.

"He got hit a couple of times out there today where you cringed," back-rower Tariq Sims said.