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SYDNEY - Benji Marshall wants to return to the Kiwis test side next month if he can prove his fitness in the National Rugby League (NRL) in the next fortnight.
But his Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has warned new Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney against rushing the star five-eighth back too early for the centenary test on May 9 in Sydney.
Marshall today said he was hopeful of being cleared to return from a six-week knee injury layoff for the Tigers this weekend.
It gives him two matches, against Cronulla on Sunday and Brisbane on May 3, the day before Kearney is scheduled to name his side to face the Kangaroos.
"I've missed too many tests as it is. I'd love to be picked in the team," Marshall said at Tigers training today.
"I've got two games to get myself ready for that. I'm sure if I can get two games under my belt I'll feel ready, but if I don't feel ready I won't put my name forward."
Sheens named Marshall in his side at five-eighth today, pending a medical clearance tomorrow, after a quick recovery from a posterior cruciate ligament strain in his knee which he sustained in the first five minutes of the Tigers' season opener.
Sheens said he was "reasonably confident" Marshall would be passed fit to face the Sharks.
But he was guarded about Marshall being rushed back to test duty.
"As long as he is prepared. If he plays two games then he will probably be close," Sheens told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
"But I think last year they played him and he was a bit underdone and they paid the price for it.
"I don't think he played well and he would agree with that."
Marshall, 23, admitted it was a mistake rushing back from a shoulder injury for the Kiwis' 6-30 loss to Australia in Brisbane a year ago.
"If I don't play this week, and it comes down to next week and I get through all right then I'll make myself available.
"If not, I'm not going to rush back into the test arena playing the best team in the world.
"I'll back myself 100 per cent if I get through one game or two.
"Last year I didn't play any games and went straight into a test match. That was probably one of the biggest mistakes I made and you learn from that."
Marshall said he had had no recent contact from Kearney about a test comeback after it initially appeared he would run out of time to recover in time for the test.
Warriors centre Jerome Ropati was being eyed as the test No 6 but injured his hamstring last Saturday and is out for this weekend at least.
Still, Marshall has to get through another NRL comeback after a horror injury run since bursting on the scene in 2003.
He has played just 63 NRL matches and three tests in nearly five years, and undergone five bouts of shoulder surgery.
The most recent layoff had given Marshall time to further strengthen his shoulder, and build up his quadricep muscle to support the troublesome left knee.
"I'm not looking to set the world on fire, I just want to get back out there and get through 80 minutes, that's my main goal.
"I've said it every time, I come back bigger and stronger, but I'm not going to say anything this time. I'll just try to get through this game and I'll be happy."
- NZPA
