Exciting NRL rookie Demitric Sifakula is on the comeback trail as he prepares for his first outing since last August in the One New Zealand Warriors’ 12th-round New South Wales Cup encounter with top four side North Sydney at North Sydney Oval on Sunday (1.00pm kick-off local time; 3.00pm NZT).

The 20-year-old back rower’s last match was in the club’s NSW Cup clash against Western Suburbs in Hamilton last year, a sad night for him when he suffered a season-ending ACL knee injury.

Earlier in the year he made his NRL debut against the Sydney Roosters at Go Media Stadium, one of three first-grade appearances in 2023.

Now he takes his first steps back on the field after being named on the interchange for Sunday’s clash against the fourth-placed Bears, who are on 15 points just two ahead of the Warriors, the only side in the top eighth yet to have a bye.

Sifakula comes into a Warriors side enjoying a solid vein of form which has seen it unbeaten in its last five games including four wins and a draw, the most recent result an exceptional 22-10 victory over competition leader Penrith.

All but bereft of experience, the Warriors fielded a lineup dominated by players eligible to play in the Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) and SG Ball Cup (under-19).

The win has the Warriors in seventh place with six wins, a draw and four losses from their first 11 matches.

They’ll again be low on NRL experience this week although they have been boosted by Sifakula’s return along with fellow back rower Leka Halasima, who made his comeback last week.

The Warriors will go into the game with grim memories of their second-round match against the Bears in Pukekohe in March when they were on the end of an 18-38 loss.

North Sydney beat South Sydney 30-20 last Saturday following a 24-31 loss to Parramatta in round 10.