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Cherry-Evans trains, but is he cherry ripe?

Coach Geoff Toovey says Daly Cherry-Evans will take the field for an injury-hit Manly side against Melbourne at AAMI Park on Saturday.

Cherry-Evans suffered a calf injury in Australia’s Test win over New Zealand last Friday but Toovey is confident the superstar halfback has sufficiently recovered to play.

Cherry-Evans’ inclusion would be a massive boost for the equal premiership frontrunners who will be without Jamie Lyon and Kieran Foran (both knee) and Glenn Stewart (ankle).

“Daly trained in limited training today at the captain’s run, he got through it OK and we will see how he pulls up tomorrow but we are expecting him to play,” Toovey said on Friday.

“He had a limited run, we didn’t want to inflame anything.

“He seems alright now, we will have to wait until tomorrow, but we are quite confident he will wake up fine tomorrow and be right to play.”

The match is the return bout of the round one match at Brookvale Oval between the Storm and the Sea Eagles who have created one of rugby league’s greatest modern rivalries.

Manly led 20-0 in round one before Brett Stewart left the field injury and Melbourne roared back into a contest they eventually won 23-22 in golden point with a Cameron Smith field goal.

The sides shared a 10-all draw at AAMI Park last year.

“It is a bit of a test it is always a great encounter with us and Melbourne, and we expect nothing different,” Toovey said.

“We are under the pump a bit, it is good to be the underdogs, we will relish that either way it will be a tight game

“We have been a bit hot and cold this year, we need to work on that.”

Brett Stewart will captain Manly.

“I’m not sure the last time that happened,” Stewart said.

AAP

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