Manly prop Matt Lodge is poised to return to the field less than eight months after suffering an ACL tear which plunged his career into doubt.

Fresh from their season-opening win over the Rabbitohs in Las Vegas, the Sea Eagles have received another major boost with Lodge to undergo testing next week, which is expected to clear him for an on-field return.

The 28-year-old ruptured his ACL in August last year, the first time he played against his previous club, the Roosters.

It was feared a long rehabilitation would have Lodge missing most of the 2024 campaign with some NRL players struggling to return within 12 months due to complications during their recovery.

But having been handed a career lifeline by the Sea Eagles, who offered him a new contract despite the long injury lay-off he was facing, Lodge has sped through his recovery to be on the verge of a return within the next month.

If given the green light next week, he will increase his training load over the next fortnight before being declared available to play.

“We’re expecting him to be ready in about four weeks,” Manly coach Anthony Seibold said. “He should be available to play in that time, but we’ll know a bit more after the testing. He’s just integrated back into skills this week.

“He’s fit. He’s done a lot of boxing and a lot of wrestle. He’s a really diligent trainer. There’s another young fella called Zane Dunford who did his ACL in Jersey Flegg, but he’s been full-time with us in our train and trial squad. Lodgey has been excellent with him.”