Paul Gallen has conceded he is no chance of playing before the opening State of Origin game ahead of a crucial phase in his rehabilitation from a hip injury this week.
The NSW skipper remains a 50/50 proposition for Origin I in Sydney on May 27 as the Blues begin their quest for back-to-back interstate titles for the first time since 2005.
Gallen received a setback last week when his recovery from the injury stalled, causing him to have it reassessed, putting his Origin plans in jeopardy.
If the Cronulla skipper is fit for game one, he won't have played since the Shark's round six NRL clash against Newcastle on April 10, a gap of almost seven weeks.
"There will be no run before Origin I if I do get there," Gallen said on Channel Nine's Footy Show on Sunday.
"It's not ideal but I have done it before, I'm not concerned about my fitness, I have played plenty of football at Origin and club level."
Gallen has resorted to oxygen rich therapy in a bid to fast-track the injury,
"It is going ok, I'm pretty much pain free now and, I will start the rehab process this week," he said.
"Providing the rehab goes to plan I think I will be pretty close to Origin I.
"I never knew how bad it was until last week when we tried to progress the rehab and it wasn't coming along the way we wanted it to, so we had to re-scan it again.
"It is an unusual one, I am willing to do anything to get it right."
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