KEY POINTS:
Benji Marshall could barely contain his excitement while his coach Tim Sheens sounded the standard note of caution - don't expect miracles.
After nearly four months out after shoulder surgery, the Kiwis star was yesterday named at halfback for the Wests Tigers against North Queensland next Monday night.
"We've done a lot of contact work with the physio and the trainers and I feel good about myself, 100 per cent confident to come back," Marshall said. "I can't wait to get out there with the boys.
"The coach has said I've had more comebacks than Muhammad Ali," he said.
"I've just trained as hard as I can, everything necessary to get back on the field."
There were question marks over Marshall's playing future after he suffered a fractured socket in his right shoulder during an attempted tackle on Melbourne giant Israel Folau in May.
Still just 22, it was Marshall's seventh shoulder injury in three years, two of which required reconstructions.
But Marshall's surgeon gave him the all clear this month and Sheens felt he could have played, if required, in the 28-16 loss to the Warriors last Sunday.
With that defeat pushing the Tigers back to eighth on the points table, the time was right to reintroduce the man who inspired them to the NRL title in 2005.
"It's about getting back his rhythm and timing. He's got extra responsibility playing seven," Sheens said.
"I'm not expecting the world. He doesn't have to score off every play and set up something from every play."
Sheens said the shift from his usual five-eighth position was to offer more responsibility on attack.
It may also lessen his defensive workload although Sheens insisted he wasn't being hidden.
"You can't go out on the football field and avoid making tackles. You've got to make tackles and run the ball.
"Once you make that first tackle it goes straight out of your head."
Marshall and fellow returnee, captain Brett Hodgson (fractured cheekbone) had done heavy defensive work in the past three weeks.
His magic on attack was there for all to see at training drills at Concord Oval yesterday.
Watching the Tigers from the coach's box in recent weeks had provided a wiser Marshall's biggest lesson.
"I'll probably try to be a bit more patient this time, bide my time and not try to produce miracles every time I touch the ball."
The toughest period was the days after the injury, Marshall said, when it seemed he was out for the season.
When a July return was targeted he snapped out of his gloom, returned to the gym and felt stronger now than at the start of the season when he'd bulked up 5kg.
Asked if he feared one more heavy shoulder knock might end his career he said: "It's not in my mind. Full stop, exclamation mark."
- NZPA