South Sydney coach Michael Maguire has confirmed Sam Burgess will return from a neck injury for Thursday's NRL clash against Manly.

Burgess suffered the injury in Souths' round-three loss to St George Illawarra at the SCG and sat out the heavy Good Friday defeat to Canterbury.

But the dual international will return for the Rabbitohs in the opening match of round five at Brookvale Oval.

"He will be playing," Maguire said at Rabbitohs training at Redfern Oval on Tuesday.