Hooker Matt Ballin's hopes of playing in Manly's NRL semi-final against Canterbury on Saturday are rising after his rehabilitation from a leg injury continues ahead of schedule.
Ballin suffered the injury in Manly's round 25 win over Penrith and hasn't played since.
He is yet to train with teammates but ran strongly on the injury for the first time over the weekend and Monday.
The 30-year-old faces a fitness test later in the week to determine his availability but superstar fullback Brett Stewart was full of hope.
"They are going to give him a fitness test later in the week," Stewart said on Tuesday.
"I think so at this stage (he will be ok), we need him so hopefully he will be right to play Canterbury."
Back-up hooker Jayden Hodges (neck) only trained lightly at the Sea Eagles' Narrabeen base on Tuesday and is unlikely to play.
With utility Jamie Buhrer (knee) gone for the season, Peta Hiku and Justin Horo were forced into the No.9 role when Hodges didn't return for the second half against Souths.
Former Wests Tigers and Penrith utility Masada Iosefa could fill the breach if Ballin isn't declared fit, but he hasn't played first grade since moving to Brookvale at the start of the season.
Coach Geoff Toovey could opt to play halfback Daly Cherry-Evans at hooker and move captain Jamie Lyon to partner Kieran Foran in the halves.
If Ballin is ruled out Stewart wasn't sure which way Manly would go.
"I don't know who we have left, maybe Tooves might be in a jersey," he said.
"Some years you have injuries like we are having now and young blokes step up to the plate and that is what we are asking some blokes to do this week, we have been doing that all year."
The clash against Des Hasler's Canterbury is Stewart's 200th NRL game.
"It is a great honour to play 200 games for this club, it is also an elimination final so I am really excited for both," he said.
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