The focus might be on Des Hasler’s return to Brookvale Oval, but back-rower Jamie Buhrer admits Manly are in a “now or never” situation to salvage their NRL premiership defence.

Last week’s uncharacteristically soft loss to Newcastle dropped the Sea Eagles back to seventh spot on the competition ladder, and they have a run home that includes matches against top-eight hopefuls Brisbane, the Warriors, North Queensland and South Sydney as well as Friday’s clash with high-flying Canterbury.

The Sea Eagles have struggled throughout the year to put their best team on the field, battling injury and suspension to key players all season.

But Buhrer says they are running out of time to cement a finals spot and there is no point wasting any breath on excuses.

“I think we still are a competitive team. We haven’t quite clicked as we’d like to,” Buhrer said on Thursday.

“I’m not going to use all sorts of excuses because, at this end of the year, everyone’s going (to have) certain issues.

“It’s kind of now or never, the next couple of weeks, to get back into our groove. I think we can definitely do that.”

The Sea Eagles are hopeful inspirational lock Glenn Stewart, who trained on Thursday, will overcome a knee injury to face the Bulldogs.

But his brother, fullback Brett, will not risk his hamstring injury – stopping a potentially explosive showdown with in-form Bulldogs custodian Ben Barba.

Barba has been the competition’s form player in the past six weeks and has rocketed into Dally M calculations, with Buhrer admitting he will command plenty of attention from the Sea Eagles.

“He’s playing some freakish rugby league,” Buhrer said.

“… It’s going to be big job for us.

“We’re going to have to make sure we nullify him and hopefully – if we shut down the forwards and stop Benny from doing what he does – we’ll go a long way towards winning the game.”