Things to do include: extend streak of consecutive games, have a stint in the centres, wear a representative jersey and, most importantly, play finals footy.

To give himself the best possible chance to tick all those boxes, the 22-year-old Darwin junior had surgery about eight weeks ago to mend a nagging groin injury and has since eased himself back into training.

"I've been doing what I can in and out of training, just gradually getting the mobility back and tearing some scar tissue so I'm not inhibited at all when I'm running," the moustachioed McManus said yesterday after the Knights' golf day at Pacific Dunes.

"Hopefully another week, week-and-a-half, and I'll be back to full strength and training hard again."

This time two years ago, McManus was one of many unheralded hopefuls keen for a crack in first grade under newly arrived coach Brian Smith.

Forty-eight straight games and 17 tries later, the modest, methodical metre-eater has proven himself to be one of the team's most consistent and conscientious contributors. If not for his appointment with the groin surgeon, the Scottish-born winger would have been one of the first players picked for the Bravehearts' recent World Cup campaign, but he now has his eyes on a Country Origin jersey next year.

"That would be fantastic, so we'll just see how it goes," he said.

"I definitely go in now with a lot more confidence knowing where I sit in the side, and I'm searching for other goals too, whether it's rep footy, get out all the games again, maybe play a few games in the centres."

McManus is encouraged by the rise from obscurity of Manly's David "Wolfman" Williams, who began last season as a rookie recruit from Parramatta but ended up playing 20 games for the Sea Eagles, including their grand final mauling of Melbourne, and will start on the wing for Australia tomorrow night in the World Cup final against New Zealand.

"He's a fantastic player, but it definitely helps being on the wing on the end of a backline like Manly, and playing for a team that's going so well and scoring so many tries," he said.

"We don't want to be the ones sitting down watching the finals on TV come September and October.

"We want to be involved in it."