Narrative:

From the zzzzzx arrival approach gave us a clearance direct to zzzzz on the ILS xxl approach. The pm selected the zzzzz fix from the dir FMS page and asked if I agree; I visually verified that direct zzzzz was selected and replied I agree and to execute the change. The pm then stated we need to make the 176 course big; and I agreed. After the change was made I verified on PFD1 that the aircraft was in white needles with navigation captured and the fix was zzzzz. A few moments later approach asked us if we were going direct to zzzzz; and again I verified on PFD1 that the aircraft was in white needles; navigating to the fix zzzzz. The pm confirmed that we were direct zzzzz. Approach then gave us a heading to the right of our flight path to fly. I dialed in the requested heading (I think it was 125) and selected heading on the fcp and verified on the PFD1 that the aircraft was now in heading mode. Trying to determine what had happened and why we need a course correction I noted the flight path on PFD2 that showed we had been tracking the last heading as an intercept for the extended localizer course outside of zzzzz. A brief discussion of what had happened with the pm was conducted and we both agreed that we should not have entered the course; which tells the FMS that you want this heading to intercept; and that it should have been left as the course direct to zzzzz as this was the clearance. The approach was conducted without further incident.this was my first flight as captain after almost X years. I had just completed IOE the previous week; which had multiple interruptions including being taken off line because my IOE check airmen had been exposed to covid. I flew one turn as an first officer the previous day; and this flight. I believe my concern to be open to correction caused my response to want to agree with the pm; and this was a common error I had made during training as well; not making the inbound course 'big' to have the FMS adjust the flight profile for an intercept as opposed to flying to a specific course. Just because I had made this error before; does not mean that I will make it again; I should have stated out loud why I did not initially ask to make the course big; because I heard the clearance as direct to the fix; not intercept; which we were primed for; due to our position in the flight. Additionally when ATC questioned if we were going direct to zzzzz; I check PFD1 to read the status of our navigation; and seeing zzzzz as the fix; and navigation captured and in white; believed this could only be the case. In all my time flying this type aircraft; I don't know if I have ever been aware that this shows when intercepting the course; as you would usually see heading mode to capture. Additionally; the slight difference in the flight path was not great as displayed on PFD2 in the map. This will definitely change the way I verify the mode the aircraft is in; to include tracing the flight path on PFD2.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier flight crew reported a track heading deviation during arrival and both pilots cited lack of flying as a contributing factor.

Narrative: From the ZZZZZX arrival approach gave us a clearance direct to ZZZZZ on the ILS XXL approach. The PM selected the ZZZZZ fix from the DIR FMS page and asked if I agree; I visually verified that direct ZZZZZ was selected and replied I agree and to execute the change. The PM then stated we need to make the 176 course big; and I agreed. After the change was made I verified on PFD1 that the aircraft was in white needles with NAV captured and the fix was ZZZZZ. A few moments later approach asked us if we were going direct to ZZZZZ; and again I verified on PFD1 that the aircraft was in white needles; navigating to the fix ZZZZZ. The PM confirmed that we were direct ZZZZZ. Approach then gave us a HDG to the right of our flight path to fly. I dialed in the requested heading (I think it was 125) and selected HDG on the FCP and verified on the PFD1 that the aircraft was now in HDG mode. Trying to determine what had happened and why we need a course correction I noted the flight path on PFD2 that showed we had been tracking the last heading as an intercept for the extended LOC course outside of ZZZZZ. A brief discussion of what had happened with the PM was conducted and we both agreed that we should not have entered the course; which tells the FMS that you want this heading to intercept; and that it should have been left as the course direct to ZZZZZ as this was the clearance. The approach was conducted without further incident.This was my first flight as Captain after almost X years. I had just completed IOE the previous week; which had multiple interruptions including being taken off line because my IOE Check Airmen had been exposed to COVID. I flew one turn as an FO the previous day; and this flight. I believe my concern to be open to correction caused my response to want to agree with the PM; and this was a common error I had made during training as well; not making the inbound course 'BIG' to have the FMS adjust the flight profile for an intercept as opposed to flying to a specific course. Just because I had made this error before; does not mean that I will make it again; I should have stated out loud why I did not initially ask to make the course big; because I heard the clearance as direct to the fix; not intercept; which we were primed for; due to our position in the flight. Additionally when ATC questioned if we were going direct to ZZZZZ; I check PFD1 to read the status of our navigation; and seeing ZZZZZ as the fix; and NAV captured and in white; believed this could only be the case. In all my time flying this type aircraft; I don't know if I have ever been aware that this shows when intercepting the course; as you would usually see HDG mode to capture. Additionally; the slight difference in the flight path was not great as displayed on PFD2 in the map. This will definitely change the way I verify the mode the aircraft is in; to include tracing the flight path on PFD2.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.