It looked as though Maliota had played his last game for the Cherrypickers when he was granted leave due to personal reasons, but has returned from New Zealand for the elimination final against Kangaroos on Saturday.
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The junior Kiwi representative in 2010 linked with the club in May but only had a short stay.
He hasn’t played since July 18 but his big presence in the middle of the Cherrypickers forward pack has been missed.
Lock Matt Wakefield is looking forward to getting back on the field with Maliota.
The evergreen Nick Hall also returns from injury to help add some size to the forward pack.
“Isaac is back and Hally is back so hopefully they can make an impact,” Wakefield said.
“It’s good to have him (Maliota) back and hopefully he’s been doing some training and staying away from the drive-through McDonalds.
“Guys of that capability are going to give us some starch up the middle.
“It’s good to have them back.”
Wakefield is out to end the good run Kangaroos have enjoyed over the Cherrypickers recently.
Roos have won both their games this season and ended Young’s season in the corresponding fixture last year.
Wakefield was playing for Woy Woy last season but would love to get one back on the Wagga club.
“It’s a big game and I’m a bit nervous,” he said.
“They tend to have the wood on us and have beaten us in the past two games, so it would be good a win over them.”
The damaging lock believes the clash will come down to who has the best defence.
Injuries haven’t been kind to either team but both have key men returning at the right time.
It looked unlikely that Young would make the finals two weeks ago and Wakefield is looking to make the most of the opportunity.
“It’s a bonus and we’ve given ourselves every chance and we just have to get out there on Saturday and hopefully we win,” he said.
“It’s do or die this week.”
At 33, Wakefield has had plenty of finals experience and has been beaten in the premliminary final in his last two seasons.
He is looking to bring some of that experience to the table in what could be captain-coach Luke Branighan’s last game with the club.
Carl Planicka and Christopher Campbell are in doubt for the clash and will need to pass one final fitness test before the weekend’s match.
Kangaroos coach Adam Hall is yet to finalise his line up as well with Gordon Lagaali, Hayden Ashcroft, Chris Jordan and Tom Webb all under injury clouds.
