Jack Bird will line up in the centres as he takes the first steps in his return to the NRL in Saturday’s trial game against Queensland Cup side Wynnum Manly.

High-profile Cronulla recruit Bird’s debut season at the Broncos in 2018 turned into a nightmare as he battled shoulder and sternum injuries that eventually saw him sidelined after round 10.

But the 23-year-old has trained strongly since the arrival of new coach Anthony Seibold and will start in the centres alongside Kotoni Staggs at Kougari Oval as part of a squad featuring plenty of NRL regulars.

New Zealand international Alex Glenn, David Fifita and Tevita Pangai will form a dangerous back-row partnership for the pre-season clash, while veteran recruit Shaun Fensom will get his first Broncos start in the front row alongside Payne Haas.

Young gun Sean O’Sullivan, an off-season arrival from the Sydney Roosters will start at five-eighth as Anthony Milford remains in cotton wool until next weekend’s trial against the Gold Coast.

Tom Dearden will get another crack at halfback after the 17-year-old impressed in the side’s 42-0 defeat of Souths Logan last weekend, while backrower Jayden Su’A will return from a broken ankle suffered last year on an extended bench.

Hooker Jake Turpin, who captained last weekend’s side, wingers Richie Kennar and Herbie Farnworth and fullback Tesi Niu have also been retained in the starting side.

Young quartet Thomas Flegler, Pat Carrigan, Cory Paix, Jamil Hopoate and Tanah Boyd will join Su’A on the bench in the 23-man squad.