Sam Burgess back to play Manly

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.

“He is fine and he is ready to go. He has had a week off, he has had a rest and he is good to go.”

After ducking awkwardly into a three-man Dragons tackle, Burgess was taken off the SCG in a medicab and rushed to nearby St Vincent’s Hospital before being released two days later.

“It was a muscle strain through the back of his neck, which went into spasm and created some dramas throughout the shoulder region,” Maguire said.

“But fortunately for him he is ready to go and we look forward to having him back.”

Maguire said Burgess didn’t need to change his approach to football.

“No at all, just don’t duck your head,” Maguire said.

Souths will also likely welcome back prop Tom Burgess from a foot injury for his first match of 2016.

“Chances are he will play,” Maguire said.

Former Kangaroos centre and now Manly five-eighth Dylan Walker comes up against his old club on Thursday after an acrimonious exit from Redfern.

Maguire declined to comment on what he expected from the 21-year-old.

Walker becomes even more important for Manly, who will be without halfback Daly Cherry-Evans due to an ankle injury.

Sea Eagles utility Jamie Buhrer (hand) is also sidelined but the hosts welcome back Martin Taupau and Brenton Lawrence from suspension after they sat out the round-four win over the Sydney Roosters.

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