Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary has predicted son Nathan will hit the ground running as he attempts to prove his fitness to NSW mentor Brad Fittler over the next two weeks.

Penrith halfback Nathan will make his return from a seven-week lay off due to a knee injury against his father’s side at Panthers Stadium on Thursday night.

There’s more than just bragging rights in the Cleary household on the line with Nathan well and truly in the race for a maiden State of Origin call up.

Ivan shrugged when asked if two matches was enough time to prove to Fittler and his selectors than Nathan was ready to be thrown into the Origin arena after a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

However, Ivan tipped Nathan would show few ill effects and be able to hit form straight away.

“I haven’t been watching him train, I thought about sneaking around and trying to watch,” Ivan said.

“He looks fine. He’s pretty keen.

“They know what they’re doing out there (at Penrith), they wouldn’t put him out there unless he was right to go.

“Having said that, whoever’s been out for a long injury, it takes a bit of time to get going. But I’m pretty sure he’ll click into gear pretty easily.”

Ivan said he could escape his conflicting emotions.

While he was nervous for his son in his first game back from a medial ligament tear, he wanted his side to pressure him like they would any other No.7.

“It doesn’t matter in terms of what our boys do,” Ivan said.

“I don’t deliberately go out and target anyone.

“But the players are smart, they understand there are certain players they need to pressure at different times. I don’t need to say too much about that.

“But as a father, it’s definitely conflicting, there’s no way around that.

“It is what it is, it’s a bit of professional integrity, we’ve both got jobs to do, so that’s what we’ll do.”