A REFRESHED Nigel Vagana is jumping around like a teenager and ready to provide a boost to South Sydney's hopes of recording their first win of the season on Friday night, against a Broncos outfit bolstered by the return of Australian skipper Darren Lockyer.

Vagana, who stood down from playing after the Rabbitohs round-one loss to Sydney Roosters because of concerns about his fitness following chronic back and hamstring problems during the off-season, will return with boom hooker Issac Luke (broken hand) for the trip to Brisbane and has been named in the centres.

The Souths pair are among a host of big name stars returning this weekend, including Lockyer (knee), Storm prop Brett White (suspension), Sharks skipper Paul Gallen (suspension) and sacked Newcastle hooker Terence Seu Seu, who was last night named on the Cronulla bench for Sunday's match against Wests Tigers.

The Australian team for the May 9 Centenary Test against New Zealand will be named after the Toyota Park clash, along with the City and Country sides to play in Wollongong on Friday week, and Lockyer, Gallen and White will all be out to push their selection chances on the weekend.

With the Kiwi team not named until the following Sunday, Luke has two matches to gain match fitness before his almost certain Test debut, but Vagana is just focused on getting back in form.

"Nigel is fit and ready to play, he's been jumping around like a 13-year-old, so it's going to be great to have him back in the side," said Souths' director of football, Shane Richardson. "With Issac also returning, we're starting to get close to our best side on the field, and Nigel's experience will be a great benefit to our young backs."

Aside from the return of Vagana and Luke, Taylor has promoted Eddie Paea to starting halfback alongside five-eighth Ben Rogers, in place of Jeremy Smith. Dragons coach Nathan Brown and Manly's Des Hasler are others to change their scrumbase pairings, with Rangi Chase dumped to the Illawarra competition and Jamie Soward recalled to play five-eighth for the Dragons in Friday's Anzac Day clash with the Roosters, and Steve Matai given the Sea Eagles' No.6 jersey against the Bulldogs on Saturday.

Ben Hornby was again named at halfback for the Dragons, despite playing mostly at dummy half in last weekend's loss to the Bulldogs with back-rower Dean Young at first receiver. In other team changes, Melbourne welcome back prop Brett White (striking) into the starting side to play North Queensland, while Gallen (contrary conduct) will regain the Sharks captaincy after his three-match ban for gouging the face of Titans forward Anthony Laffranchi.

Gallen is joined in the Cronulla side by Seu Seu, who was sacked by the Knights last month after a string of alcohol-related incidents. It is understood that Sharks officials were last night outlining a plan to NRL officials which will ensure Seu Seu stays out of further trouble in a bid to have his new contract registered.