NSW captain Boyd Cordner is likely to play in next month's State of Origin decider, with his calf injury believed to be on the lower end of the scale.
Cordner limped from the field in the final minute's of the Blues 18-16 Game II loss to Queensland on Wednesday night, amid fears he could be sidelined for up to a month.
He underwent scans on Thursday, however Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson confirmed on Friday the injury was not as bad as first feared.
"I don't think he will be out for long," Robinson said.
"It was fairly positive on Thursday when we got it assessed but obviously not right for this week and I'd be doubting next week for us as well."
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Cordner will miss the Roosters' clash with Melbourne at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday, one of 10 Origin stars to be sidelined via Wednesday night's carnage.
But when asked if Cordner was a chance to play in Origin III, Robinson was positive in his response.
"Yes definitely - I'd say he's going to have to rehab it well.
"There's a couple of different parts to the calf and it's in the better part for recovery."
It's double good news for the Blues, after fullback James Tedesco also revealed he hoped he would return from an ankle injury next week.
Tedesco confirmed on Friday morning he had torn a lateral ligament in his ankle celebrating a Mitchell Pearce try in the first half of the Blues' loss.
"I went to celebrate with him (Pearce)," Tedesco told Sydney radio station C91.3..
"I jumped up and I rolled it as I was celebrating with him.
"It's pretty funny, but it's not ideal."
Despite initial fears it was a repeat of the ankle syndesmosis he suffered in 2014, Tedesco is hopeful he can return against Newcastle for the Tigers next week before the Blues side is named for the July 12 decider.
"It's not as bad as I first thought," Tedesco said.
"It's the ankle I injured before and had surgery on it, but luckily it wasn't that bad again.
"It's very sore at the moment so I've been icing it all night and hopefully get it right for next week."
