Melbourne veteran Billy Slater has been named to make his long-awaited return to the NRL for Thursday’s clash against Brisbane, after his recovery from shoulder surgery.

Slater and teammate Jesse Bromwich were a number of big names to be selected in 21-man squads on Tuesday, including Canberra pair Jarrod Croker and Dave Taylor, and Cronulla star Valentine Holmes.

Parramatta five-eighth Corey Norman is out of the Eels’ round-three meeting with the Gold Coast.