Time is running out for Penrith skipper Matt Moylan to make his NRL return in Friday night's knockout semi-final against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
The Panthers playmaker was on Tuesday not named for the sudden death clash after being granted personal leave by the club last week and undergoing counselling.
Penrith can still apply for an exemption from the NRL to allow Moylan to make his comeback against the Broncos if made available in the coming days.
However, it is considered highly unlikely that Moylan will be given a clearance to play this week by counsellors treating the 26-year-old for personal issues.
Under the NRL's team list guidelines introduced this year, only those named in a club's squad of 21 on Tuesday can play as part of the final 17 that round.
Players can only be brought into the squad when granted a special exemption by the NRL, usually in the case of any injury to a specialist position player.
"He's a fantastic player. I don't know what kind of dramas are going on down there but with him in the team they are a very different attacking team - we will see what happens," Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday said of a possible Moylan return.
Moylan's fitness is another issue.
His troublesome hamstring that has restricted him to playing just two of Penrith's last six games is considered "touch and go" for this week.
He has not trained with Penrith since being granted leave.
Meanwhile, Brisbane rolled the dice and named injured skipper Darius Boyd as 18th man.
Boyd will be given until the rest of the week to overcome the hamstring complaint that forced him to miss their qualifying final loss to the Sydney Roosters.
Explosive backrower Tevita Pangai Junior was also named in the extended squad after missing one week with a similar hamstring complaint.
Wayne Bennett has stuck with veteran Benji Marshall in the halves with Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima at fullback.
Parramatta have not named fullback Bevan French for Saturday night's semi-final with North Queensland at ANZ Stadium.
The livewire No.1 had been expected to make his return from a three-week hamstring injury.
Eels hooker Cameron King was picked despite suffering an arm injury in last week's opening loss to Melbourne.
He is expected to be monitored this week after scans cleared King of a fracture but revealed nerve damage.
And former Queensland flyer Justin O'Neill is a chance to return from a month-long elbow complaint after being included in the Cowboys' 21-strong squad.
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