Boyd Cordner is "quietly confident" he can overcome a calf injury to lead NSW in the State of Origin decider.
Cordner hasn't played since coming off late in the Blues' dramatic game two collapse in Sydney, but has been working overtime to face Queensland on July 12.
However the NSW captain confirmed on Friday night he would head into camp with NSW on Monday, to give him the best chance to play in the Suncorp Stadium clash.
"The calf's going really well at the moment. It's getting better day by day, which is a positive sign," he told Fox Sports.
"As long as it keeps on track like that, the medical staff here at the Roosters are pretty happy with it.
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"There's still a lot of work to be done from now until State of Origin III but at the moment I'm quietly confident."
Cordner's condition has been progressing quickly since he received better-than-expected news on his calf last Thursday.
He is yet to start running on his troublesome calf, but is hopeful of being in full contact by the end of next week.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said on Friday he believed the club's co-captain would hypothetically be touch and go to play if he was available for his club next weekend, in a sign his condition is likely to improve enough for Wednesday week.
"He'd be close in the context of it was a final," Robinson said.
"But if it was a round game with rounds to go, then I probably wouldn't play him.
"He's progressing and that's the main thing.
"I've seen before, Boyd recovers well. He's headstrong, the mental side of an injury won't ever be an issue for Boyd."
Robinson also said he would have no reservations about Cordner risking the injury in the Origin arena, after North Queensland lost star playmaker Johnathan Thurston a season-ending shoulder aggravation in Origin II.
"It's not (something that concerns) me," Robinson said.
"If Boyd is 80 or 90 per cent ready and he feels like he is ready to play, then I would love him to play.
"He's worked so hard to get to this point of his career. He's captaining an Origin team. If he gets the chance to play in an Origin decider then that's his prerogative. He can go after it there."
