PARRAMATTA's Brett Finch made his name as a halfback but he says he would be thrilled to be chosen as back-up hooker for the Blues.

And Finch, who played three State of Origin games at No.7 for NSW, says he would call on his experience as a dummy half when he was at the Sydney Roosters to make sure he got the job done right.

The Origin picture for the Blues became clearer yesterday when Manly fullback Brett Stewart passed a fitness test on his injured calf and was given the OK to play for the Sea Eagles against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow. Manly coach Des Hasler said: "Brett's playing. He got through the test without a problem. He looked fine, so it's good news for us and NSW."

Stewart is a certain selection as NSW fullback if fit, but because of the tricky nature of calf injuries there would have been concern among coach Craig Bellamy and the selectors had he not played in a club game before the team for Origin I at ANZ Stadium on May 21 is named on Tuesday.

Newcastle utility Kurt Gidley, who is set to be named NSW halfback, could have ended up at fullback if Stewart was out and that would have thrown Finch back into a battle for the halfback job. But as long as Stewart makes it through the game against the Broncos, there will be no need to review plans that have been solid for a while now.

Also, North Queensland second-rower Luke O'Donnell has recovered quicker than expected from a hip injury and will make a comeback against Cronulla at Dairy Farmers Stadium tonight.

O'Donnell was a NSW and Australian representative before his hamstring was torn from the bone early last season, ruling him out for the rest of the year. He had made a solid comeback this year and was back in line for representative selection before damaging his hip three weeks ago. O'Donnell was expected to be out for another week, but Cowboys coach Graham Murray yesterday announced he would resume against the Sharks.

"Luke started running again towards the end of last week and has done a couple of contact sessions this week," Murray said. "He has convinced the medical staff and himself that he's fit to play, so he'll be in the 17."

It is probably too late for O'Donnell to push for selection for Origin I, particularly with the plethora of back-row options Bellamy and the selectors have at their disposal. However, if he comes back strongly he could certainly come into calculations for the remaining two games of the series.

Finch, who is about to sign a new three-year contract with Parramatta, is tipped to beat St George Illawarra's Ben Hornby to the utility bench spot that has become so important to NSW campaigns in recent years. Craig Wing filled the role as back-up hooker and also cover for halfback and five-eighth for several years, and Gidley took over the job last year.

Asked how he would feel if slotted into that role, Finch replied: "To tell you the truth, to wear the Blues jumper I would go anywhere they wanted to put me and be thrilled about it. If they did want to pick me on the bench, in that role that Wingy and Gids have played before, I would be confident about doing a good job, because I've had some good experience at dummy half.

"In my last year at the Roosters [in 2006], I played about half the season at hooker. I started the season there before moving around a bit in the middle of the season and towards the end I was starting at five-eighth but then switching to hooker during games. I didn't mind it. I liked getting my hands on the ball and I was able to handle the extra defence.

"I'm pretty happy with my form. It sounds like Gids is the favourite for halfback, but I'd love to be involved in some way."

Finch said he expected to finalise an agreement to re-sign with the Eels within days.

"Parra made an offer and my manager and I are just asking for a few things to be changed - nothing too drastic," he said. "We should get it done very soon."

Meanwhile, Wests Tigers second-rower Chris Heighington's manager, Wayne Beavis, said yesterday he would begin negotiating with other clubs on the in-form player's behalf. Heighington knocked back the first offer the Tigers made for him to re-sign.

They have since made an improved offer, but it has also not been enough to convince him to re-sign and he now wants to see what other clubs are prepared to pay.

"We've got three clubs to talk to and we'll be doing that next week," Beavis said.

That total will stretch to four, because Penrith chief executive Mick Leary said yesterday his club would make a play for the Country Origin representative since he had not re-signed with the Tigers.