James Segeyaro will play his first NRL game in over three years after Manly were forced to call up three debutants for Thursday's game against the Sydney Roosters at Brookvale Oval.
The Sea Eagles have only been able to name a 20-man squad when NRL guidelines state they usually must name a 22-player list on Tuesday.
The match between the ninth-placed Sea Eagles and the eighth-placed Roosters was pitted as a battle for finals football.
But the game has been overshadowed by seven Manly players withdrawing because of their stance on the club's rainbow-detailed jersey.
Papua New Guinea international Segeyaro, who was banned for two years for testing positive to a banned substance in 2019 while at Brisbane, is one of three beneficiaries.
Segeyaro will come off the bench, with Alfred Smalley and Fiji international Pio Seci also drafted up from feeder club Blacktown to play on the wing.
Ex-Canterbury forward James Roumanos and Zac Fulton - the grandson of club patriarch Bob Fulton - are part of the extended squad.
Taniela Paseka and Kurt de Luis start at prop, while Jake Trbojevic, hooker Lachlan Croker and edge forward Andrew Davey all return to the starting pack after missing last week's game with COVID-19.
The Roosters, meanwhile, welcome back Joey Manu (calf) at centre.