Brisbane’s Corey Oates looks set to return from a staph infection to play the Gold Coast on the weekend, the winger training strongly at Red Hill on Wednesday.

But his comeback will be anything but regulation, according to Broncos teammate Sam Thaiday.

Thaiday hinted at the seriousness of Oates’ illness, which has sidelined him since the Broncos’ clash with Canberra on June 24.

“I’m sure Corey will tell the story one day, but he was probably only a few days off being really, really sick to the point where there was a need to have major surgery,” Thaiday said.

“He’s a player we like to give stick to, because he’s always carrying on, but this time he was telling the truth.”

After a long hospital stint Oates resumed light duties last week, but completed the full session on Wednesday to indicate he will replace David Mead in the side to play the Titans.

“Hopefully he can be named in the side and we can get on with things,” teammate Matt Gillett said.

“Yeah it was (scary) for everyone, and especially for himself in that hospital bed.”

Ben Hunt will fill the role of injured hooker Andrew McCullough on Saturday night, while Thaiday even spent some time in the position at training on Wednesday.

Admitting the Broncos will miss the mountain of defensive work McCullough does, Thaiday and Gillett were both excited by Hunt’s extra pace and kicking game.

Thaiday worked on his passing from the ground at training on Wednesday and is likely to play limited minutes at hooker when Hunt is on the bench, while Josh McGuire is also an option at the scrum base.

“Sammy was the first one to put up his hand,” Gillett said of the process to choose a back-up No. 9.

“He’ll do a job for a little bit; it’s one on the resume for him for sure.”