Warrior Dominique Peyroux has had to bide his time and stay positive while waiting to get back into the NRL.

He calls it a blessing that his comeback in Auckland on Sunday – after more than four months out of first grade – will be against his former club Gold Coast.

Peyroux will start at centre in a backline reshuffle forced by injury to winger David Fusitua.

“Definitely, it’s a been frustrating year, playing reserve grade and trying to keep a clear head and staying positive,” he said.

“I’ve been trying to keep my performances up so I can get another chance playing with the boys again.”

Peyroux made his NRL debut with the Titans in 2011 and played 16 games before moving back to his home town of Auckland at the end of 2012.

The Cook Islands international made 14 first-grade appearances for the Warriors last season, including the 24-22 win away against the Titans in August.

But Peyroux has had just two top-grade games in 2014 and returns with the club’s playoff hopes on the line after two successive defeats which have pushed them outside the top eight.

Gold Coast are on a run of five straight losses that have put them out of finals contention and they are depleted by injury.

For Peyroux, that means they’re likely to arrive with a dangerous nothing-to-lose attitude.

“They’ll probably get some early ball out wide and get some offloads,” he said.

“We have to stay on our toes, get up as a line and stay connected.”

Peyroux will be on his toes against opposing centre, flyer James Roberts.

“He’s one of those freaks who doesn’t need to train – he just has the gift of speed,” he said.

“When he comes back towards the middle, he’s like a hot knife through butter.”