The casualty ward continues to pile up at Brisbane but teammates are hopeful Jordan Kahu is close to relieving some of the selection pressure for the injury-hit NRL club.
The winger suffered a sickening broken jaw in the second round and has endured a slow recovery, both mentally and physically.
But with eight men on the sidelines - Korbin Sims the latest to be sidelined after suffering a broken jaw on Friday - Kahu's impending return can't come soon enough.
"First of all his experience, he's that older player now," halfback Kodi Nikorima said of what Kahu would bring to the side if recalled to play Parramatta on Thursday.
"His versatility; he can play anywhere in the backline and do a job in the back row if he got put there.
"He's pretty committed and it's great to see him back out here."
The Broncos completed a light run on Monday with Corey Oates, Matt Lodge, Tevita Pangai and James Roberts all on light duties, nursing niggles that shouldn't keep them out of clash with the Eels.
Queensland Origin hopeful Josh McGuire sweated it out climbing stairs as he nears a comeback from an ankle injury while, with a bye the following week, Jack Bird is likely to be given this week off as he battles sternum soreness.
Sims joins Payne Haas, who won't know the extent of his layoff until surgery later this week, on a long-term injury list that includes Matt Gillett, Alex Glenn and Andre Savelio.
