Bevan French is back from his knee injury and ready to stake his permanent claim on the Parramatta fullback spot.

French returned for the Eels’ in their 22-16 NRL loss to Canberra on Saturday night, after a six-week lay-off with a ruptured posterior cruciate ligament.

He pulled up tender following Saturday’s game, but is certain he will be fit to take on South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

Currently without five-eighth Corey Norman, French has slotted straight in at the back with Clinton Gutherson, who deputised for French in his absence, now covering Norman.

And such was Gutherson’s form at fullback, the flashy French knows he has to earn the spot back.

“It’s a big five weeks for me,” French said.

“I want to play fullback and hopefully stay there all season … It is my preferred position. Hopefully I do cement the spot but it’s what’s good for the team.”

Gutherson’s numbers at fullback are marginally better than those of the ultra-impressive French, while the pair can each fill a number of positions in the backline.

“Gutho is killing it wherever he plays,” French said.

“He went really good at fullback when he was there … I’ve got to really keep my game up over the next few weeks.

“I was probably a bit off my game there on the weekend but hopefully I can turn it around this week.”

Key to that will be his combination with new halfback Mitchell Moses, given French’s ability to find the try line once given the ball in open space.

And while he admitted Moses at times looked “lost” in the Eels’ attack last week, the pair had worked closely in video sessions to quickly remedy any problems they might have had combining.

“Mitch came in last week and offered quite a bit. He looked a bit lost at times attacking the try-line, but worked on that this week,” French said.

“It was expected, we only had two sessions coming in, but still no excuses.

“We’ve watched a bit of video and seen what we need to work on.”