Six months after being left on the NRL scrap heap, Gold Coast's one-time million-dollar man Ash Taylor will make his NRL comeback against the Titans.
Discarded by Gold Coast at the end of last year, Taylor has been named in a new-look Warriors spine for Saturday afternoon's clash at Cbus Super Stadium.
Taylor takes the place of the injured Shaun Johnson, while Kodi Nikorima has been dropped after last week's loss to St George Illawarra.
Nathan Brown has in turn moved Chanel Harris-Tavita moved to five-eighth, with Reece Walsh returning from suspension at fullback.
When Taylor signed with the Gold Coast from Brisbane in 2017 on a $1 million-a-year contract, he was expected by many to be the NRL's next big thing.
But his form dipped amid several injuries to the point where his career looked in jeopardy at the end of last year before picking up a train-and-trial deal at the Warriors.
The 26-year-old has since admitted he did not cope well with the big-money status and expectations at the Titans.
"I felt like I was ready for it but obviously I wasn't," Taylor said in December.
"Life goes on, I can't stay stuck in the mud. I want to keep moving forward in life.
"My mind is a lot more relaxed than what it was.
"Coming off a big contract it was just a weight lifted off my shoulders."
Taylor's return comes in a round of big-name comebacks, with the half set to mark up against former teammate AJ Brimson after the Titans five-eighth recovered from a groin injury.
Tevita Pangai has been named to face Brisbane in his Canterbury debut, marking his first clash with his old club since his ugly exit last year.
His job will largely centre around helping pressure Adam Reynolds, with the Broncos halfback playing his first game of the year after recovering from COVID-19.
George Burgess will play his first NRL game since 2019, named on the bench by St George Illawarra to take on Penrith with Aaron Woods injured.
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has again left Tariq Sims out of his team, naming him on an extended bench in No.20.
Griffin is monitoring Sims' fitness, but the NSW State of Origin second-rower is also free to look elsewhere for a new deal and has attracted interest from Melbourne.
Cameron Munster and Harry Grant are back from suspension for the Storm and will face off with Latrell Mitchell in his comeback game for South Sydney in Thursday night's blockbuster.
But Melbourne's depth is again under pressure after a week of high-profile injuries, with Josh King named to start at lock ahead of an inexperienced bench.
Parramatta have also been tested, with Sean Russell's fractured ribs forcing Waqa Blake to move to the wing and Tom Opacic to come in at left centre.
The Eels do at least have Nathan Brown back, with Ryan Matterson dropping out of the side.
At Canberra Matt Frawley is the man to claim the No.7 jersey with Brad Schneider missing the clash with North Queensland due to COVID-19.
