Saab reaches 100-game milestone in Bulldogs rematch

Almost a year on from the "disappointing" setback, Saab brings up 100 NRL games in a rematch with the Bulldogs that looms as crucial to the Sea Eagles' hopes of another top-eight push.

Manly coach Anthony Seibold has confirmed Luke Brooks will line up after a hip flexor issue sidelined the five-eighth midway through Thursday's training session.

"He pulled up good yesterday, trained fully today. It'll be good to have him on the park," Seibold said.

Saab knows Canterbury centre Bronson Xerri wouldn't have meant to cause a syndesmosis injury at the worst possible time with his hip-drop tackle last year.

But it nevertheless hurt to have a rare chance at finals footy ripped away, with Manly making it to the second week of the play-offs without their rangy right winger.

"It was difficult, not playing in general," Saab said.

"I try to focus on my next goal. It was awesome to see the boys do what they did and see where they got to at the end of the year.

"It was disappointing, but there are people that have been worse off than me."

The ankle injury ate into Saab's off-season, requiring two rounds of surgery and leaving him unable to run until the new year.

But there won't be bad blood as Saab lines up on the opposite edge to Xerri, who is back from a minor groin injury for the Dogs.

"I think 99 per cent of them (hip-drop tackles) these days are accidental. It's a tough situation, you break a tackle sometimes and they just land on your ankle," he said.

"That's just rugby league."

Coming so close to finals last year has steeled Saab to ensure the Sea Eagles continue to fight for their top-eight spot in a famously close season.

"I've only played finals the one time in '21," he said.

"I missed out last year and we've got the potential to do it again this year. I definitely really want to be there."

Around 50 of Saab's family and friends will attend Allianz Stadium for his milestone game on Sunday.

"I'll cost the club some money buying some tickets," Saab quipped.

Saab has become renowned as one of the NRL's fastest men across a 99-game career that only really took off on his arrival at Manly from St George Illawarra in 2021.

The 24-year-old has had his setbacks, notably an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2022, but has found facing the NRL's mental demands to be his biggest challenge on the road to 100.

"The toughest part is mentally trying to play this game week in, week out. I thought as I'd go on, it'd probably get easier but it actually gets harder because you've got to adapt," he said.

"I would just say that, mentally, as you get on, more is expected of you as well."

Australian Associated Press