Mitchell Pearce will be named in the No.7 for the nib Newcastle Knights this week despite picking up a nasty cork to the leg on Friday.
Pearce failed to finish the game against the Wests Tigers but Physical Performance Manager, Tony Ayoub, is hopeful the skipper will be fit to face the Warriors in Auckland on Friday.
"He's traveling really well," Ayoub said of Pearce.
"The professional that he is, straight after the game, a couple of times of the night we got some physio into him and all the next day and it made the world of difference.
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"He's improved out of sight. We could've probably trotted him out (on the training paddock) today. He was a little bit sore and his range wasn't quite where we wanted it to be but he'll take his place on Friday night."
Josh King failed to finish training on Monday due to a corked leg, but Coach Nathan Brown is confident he'll be right to play this week.
"He'll get a bit of treatment but should be okay," Brown said.
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Meanwhile, Connor Watson has been sidelined for the past two weeks with a groin injury and isn't expected to play the Warriors.
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Brown said he's unsure when the playmaker will be ready to return.
"We won't even name Connor this week, I don't think, so that's not going as good as we hoped unfortunately," Brown said.
"He and Mitchell together played five times for four wins and the other game Connor came off against the Roosters very early.
"We haven't had a real good chance to look at that combination ... I don't think Connor will make it this week. How much longer he's out for, I'm not too sure."
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Injured players and expected return dates:
Tautau Moga (ACL, Season)
Slade Griffin (Knee, Season)
Jacob Saifiti (Shoulder, Indefinite)
Nathan Ross (Groin, Indefinite)
Connor Watson (Groin, Indefinite)
Jacob Lillyman (Abdominal, Indefinite)
Mitchell Pearce (Corked leg, Round 22)
