NRL: Manu Vatuvei return imminent

Manu Vatuvei hasn't played since the opening game of the season. Photo / Getty Images

Winger Manu Vatuvei is set for a return to the league field in a huge boost for the resurgent New Zealand Warriors who brushed aside the Panthers on Sunday for their fourth win of the season.

Vatuvei hasn't played since damaging his knee in round one but he is expected to travel with the squad that departs on Friday for matches against the Titans on Sunday, and Knights six days later.

The most likely scenario would see Vatuvei return for the Knights match, although the club hasn't made a habit of announcing in advance his return from previous injuries.

"Obviously we are not going to be taking any risks with him but he is definitely getting closer," Cleary said.

Vatuvei's return would add to a run of happy tidings for the club after back to back wins for the first grade side along with its junior side winning four of five matches and feeder club Auckland Vulcans winning five straight in the NSW Cup.

"Any time you get four out of five you are pretty happy," Cleary said. "At 0-3 we were looking from the bottom up and it was important we sorted a few things out. We did that. We have been able to make some ground in some key areas.

"We hit the heights in a lot of areas last week [against Melbourne]. [Yesterday] wasn't as good but it was certainly enough."