Test forward Luke Lewis has been asked to deputise for injured playmaker Todd Carney in his long-awaited comeback for Cronulla against Parramatta on Monday night.

Lewis has not played since crashing into advertising hoardings during Australia's triumphant World Cup campaign last November in England.

But far from easing his way back, the New South Wales State of Origin star will line up at five-eighth at Parramatta Stadium, with Carney nursing a hamstring strain.

The Sharks will also be without hard-running prop Sam Tagataese, who will miss one match after being sent off in Samoa's Test win over Fiji on Saturday night.

The club's injury and suspension concerns are nothing compared to Manly's woes.

The Sea Eagles are not only missing skipper Jamie Lyon, five-eighth Kieran Foran and strike forward Glenn Stewart, but also have half-back Daly Cherry-Evans and back rower Anthony Watmough in doubt for Saturday's showdown with the Storm in Melbourne.

Coach Geoff Toovey is hopeful both will play, but has placed former Origin forward Jamie Buhrer on stand-by to cover for Foran, with one-match rookie Jack Littlejohn set to replace Cherry-Evans if the Test playmaker fails to fully recover from a calf strain.

Buhrer's one and only previous NRL match at five-eighth came three years ago opposing the great Darren Lockyer in his farewell game for Brisbane at Lang Park.

"I think I topped the hit-up count, so that's probably how I'd play if I had to do it again," Buhrer said.

"Obviously my role wouldn't be to be Daly Cherry-Evans. If I was thrust into the halves, it'd just be about playing some simple footy.

"We'd have Jack Littlejohn there to do the majority of the kicking so it'd be more about shoring up one side defensively, running when I have to and passing when I have to."

Full-back Brett Stewart will captain the depleted Sea Eagles for the first time.

Roosters backing Maloney to return against Tigers

Despite fears he might be sidelined for an extended period with a shoulder injury, Blues five-eighth James Maloney has been named for the Roosters' clash with Wests Tigers at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night.

If Maloney starts he will line up opposite Blake Austin, who has been named as Tigers five-eighth in Braith Anasta's absence.

Konrad Hurrell will start for the Warriors in Saturday's clash with Canberra in Auckland, with coach Andrew McFadden ignoring the distraction of the 22-year-old centre's leaked personal video.

The NRL Integrity Unit is investigating the video, which reportedly depicts Hurrell engaged in a sex act while driving.

In other key selections, Blues winger Akuila Uate returns from a leg injury for Newcastle's hosting of Penrith on Sunday.

Panthers prop Tim Grant will miss the match after straining his calf at training.

St George Illawarra trio Josh Dugan, Tyson Frizell and Trent Merrin have all been named in the Dragons' side to face Canterbury at the Olympic stadium on Sunday despite withdrawing from last weekend's City versus Country clash.

But New Zealand winger Jason Nightingale is definitely out for the Dragons.

Gold Coast coach John Cartwright has named Albert Kelly and Aidan Sezer to face South Sydney on Saturday at Robina despite injury concerns over both, while Will Zillman will return from injury in the centres.

David Mead retains the full-back spot.

AAP