Coach Cameron Ciraldo has been impressed by Xerri's NSW Cup performances and training habits since he was dropped for round two.
Xerri met with general manager of football Phil Gould when reports emerged he wanted a release from the Bulldogs following his axing.
Enari Tuala continues to keep Xerri out of the starting 13, but the 25-year-old is listed on the six-man bench to face South Sydney in round five's traditional Good Friday clash.
Lachlan Galvin and Matt Burton have been named to start in the halves despite Ciraldo moving Stephen Crichton to five-eighth during last week's loss to Newcastle.
The Bulldogs are averaging a league-worst 15 points per game in attack this season.
Souths have winger Campbell Graham back following a shoulder issue but Brandon Smith is still not ready to return from his calf problem.
Kieran Foran has stuck solid with the Manly side whose loss to the Sydney Roosters proved the final straw for Anthony Seibold's coaching tenure.
It means there is no room for highly-rated youngster Joey Walsh in the team to face the Dolphins in Foran's first game as interim coach.
Walsh, who made his NRL debut last year, is listed in the reserves.
Suspended winger Jason Saab will miss Thursday's game and is replaced in the starting side by Clayton Faulalo, while Ethan Bullemor is  on the bench despite missing the Roosters game with an achilles problem.
Lyhkan King-Togia comes into the halves for winless St George Illawarra, who are without Kyle Flanagan for the clash with North Queensland.
Flanagan was released from hospital following his sickening head clash but is likely to need more than a week on the sidelines to recover.
Coach Shane Flanagan also brings new recruit David Fale onto a wing for his club debut, pushing Tyrell Sloan back to the bench, while Moses Suli returns from personal leave.
Superstar Brisbane prop Payne Haas is back from his shoulder problem to face intrastate rivals Gold Coast.
Josiah Karapani's disciplinary breach and a knee injury to Grant Anderson have meant Deine Mariner and Jesse Arthars are starting on the wings.
New recruit Freddy Lussick will start as Penrith's hooker in place of Mitch Kenny, who is suspended from the blockbuster against Melbourne.
The Storm have brought Lazarus Vaalepu onto their bench in place of Tui Kamikamica following the prop's frightening medical episode on Monday.
Parramatta's Joash Papalii starts at fullback against Wests Tigers in place of Isaiah Iongi, who is missing at least two months with an ankle injury.
Uncapped Apa Twidle joins the six-man bench as the Eels attempt to combat their injury crisis.
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