Loose forward Micheal Luck and prop Sam Rapira will return from injury for the Warriors in Friday night's NRL clash with Gold Coast.

Luck is set to make his 208th appearance and Rapira his 111th in the first of the club's back-to-back Friday night matches in Auckland, the second of them against Canterbury on July 15.

Luck was set to be sidelined for up to eight weeks after partially dislocating the patella in his left knee during the June 12 loss to Wests Tigers but has recovered quicker than expected.

Rapira has been out of action for two months after dislocating his left thumb in the opening minute of the Kiwis' Anzac Test against Australia.

He needed surgery and is one of five players named on the interchange bench along with his younger brother Steve, with the pair yet to play together in the NRL.

"It's obviously a big positive for us having such experienced players like Lucky and Sam coming back from their injuries," Warriors' coach Ivan Cleary said on Tuesday.

"Lucky has come back quicker than initially thought, while Sam has worked hard to recover from his thumb injury."

Also returning are fullback Kevin Locke and rookie halfback Shaun Johnson as the Warriors, fresh from a bye last weekend, look to end a four-match losing streak.

Locke, who missed the 16-8 loss to Melbourne with a knee injury, is back in the No.1 jersey, with Lance Hohaia moving to the bench, while Johnson will make his fourth NRL appearance, replacing the injured Brett Seymour.

With Luck making his comeback, Elijah Taylor is included on the bench with captain Simon Mannering and Feleti Mateo starting in the second row.

Prop Jacob Lillyman, who turns out for Queensland in Wednesday night's State of Origin decider, will make his 50th appearance on Friday for the Warriors if he comes through fit to play.

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