Former NSW captain Danny Buderus will make a shock return from biceps surgery and debut for Leeds on Friday night, coach Brian McClennan has revealed.

Hooker Buderus, whose Newcastle career ended prematurely when he suffered the injury in August, was expected to be racing the clock to be fit for the World Club Challenge on March 1.

"The good news is that Bedsy will be playing this weekend," McClennan told AAP from Leeds on Tuesday night.

"We were looking at the Hull KR game but he is right to come back a week early.

"He has settled in really well here and it is great news with the World Club Challenge in mind."

Leeds host Wakefield in their second Super league match of the season.

The defending world champions have a host of injury concerns with England star Rob Burrow (back) under a cloud and New Zealand fullback Brent Webb still sideline by a similar but much more serious problem.

But McClennan said the continuing delays in former Brisbane and New Zealand forward Greg Eastwood getting his UK passport were causing him big headaches.

"It is really affecting our preparation for the World Club Challenge," McClennan said.

"We have MPs and immigration lawyers following it and all we keep hearing from Canberra is `wait ... we'll send an email'.

"There is no indication of when. Even when we do get the green light, it could be a day or two before he gets on a plane and then another day to get here and then we have to test him to see how fit he is.

"He has been training but we won't know if he is ready to play against Manly in the back row until we see him ourselves.

"It's a real pain."

Eastwood travelling under his New Zealand passport and playing as an import was not an option under British immigration law, McClennan said, even though this would not breach Super League regulations.

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