Joel Monaghan will switch to the left wing in his NRL return for the Canberra Raiders on Saturday night in a bid to protect his freshly-healed left thumb.
Monaghan yesterday declared he was ''100per cent confident'' he would be fit to take on the Melbourne Storm at Canberra Stadium this weekend.
This is despite admitting he would play in pain for the remainder of the season after shattering his thumb during the pre-season.
Raiders coach David Furner didn't name Monaghan in his team on Tuesday, but indicated the former NSW and Australian winger would play if he came through the week's training unscathed. Monaghan is confident he will do just that, despite having completed just one ball-work session in nearly three months.
''I'm very confident I'll be playing,'' Monaghan said.
''It was an injury where I could keep fit and keep training, which was good. The rehabilitation trainers have been training us pretty hard, so I don't think fitness will be a problem. I've been around a while now, so I know what to expect and how to get my body right to play.
''I think it's going to be a while until [the thumb] is 100 per cent, but I'm 100 per cent confident that I'll be right to play.''
Monaghan normally plays right centre for the Raiders, a position Joel Thompson has covered with aplomb so far this season, scoring a team high six tries. But with his left thumb still tender, Monaghan said a switch to the left edge would enable him to predominantly defend with his right shoulder and arm.
