Daley has battled injury for the last two seasons and will make his first appearance in blue and white in 2018 when the Raiders host Wellington on Saturday.

Daley’s ability with the ball is well known in Group 11, but Macquarie coach Dylan Hill says it’s the classy pivot’s leadership that he’s looking forward to seeing at Apex Oval against the in-form Cowboys.

While thrilled with Daley’s return in the halves, Hill was also quick to hose down speculation the club would lose one of its brightest young pivots in Jai Merritt.

The younger brother of now Nyngan half Josh, Merritt was also linked with a move to the Tigers but Hill said he’s spoken with Jai and indicated to the prodigiously talented No.6 that Macquarie would “love him to stay”. 

On Saturday, though, Daley will link with No.7 Kurt Fuller in the halves.

And Hill was over the moon about that.

“We've finally got Chrisy D back,” a somewhat relieved Hill said.

“Hopefully Chris can perform there with Kurt Fuller, we’ve been looking for that stable combination in the halves and if Chris can settle there we’ll be in good stead.

“He’s a leader amongst the boys. He’s played at high levels in Country Rugby League and, I guess, his leadership is key for us.

“He’s obviously got a lot of ability, his talk is good, and the team will feel more comfortable with him there leading them around.”

Wellington sits third on the ladder having won four of its opening six games and with the likes of Justin Toomey-White, AJ Davis and boom fullback Will Lousick in fine form to start 2018, Hill knows his side’s defence has to be top shelf.

Wellington has earned eight competition points while Macquarie is fifth with five points, only a win ahead of the likes of Westside and Nyngan.

Hill knows the importance of a victory against a team higher than Macquarie on the ladder. It’s confidence boosting, to say the least.

But, by the same token, a loss will push the Raiders into dangerous territory on the ladder.

“Definitely, and we’ve spoken about that this week … we know Wello will be a tough battle, they’ve had a successful start to the year and with talent the talent they have they’ll come into the game firing,” he predicted.

Hill said he has been training as he recovers from a knee reconstruction, but a hamstring complaint is holding him back.

Still, the young prop-come-coach was keen to take the field at some point this season: “It’s a difficult task … but never say never. I do wish I could run out but don’t want to step on the field not 100 per cent.”