Injured Kangaroos fullback Billy Slater has returned to training, raising hope he could be fit to return for the Rugby League World Cup final.
Slater will sit out Saturday's semi-final clash with Fiji at Wembley after suffering a recurrence of a knee injury in the quarter-final win over the United States.
Kangaroos staff have not given up hope the Melbourne Storm star could be back should Australia reach next weekend's final as expected, but much will depend on how he handles a step up in intensity in training.
"He's been training but we haven't seen him run yet," coach Tim Sheens said as his side trained at Wembley on Saturday.
"Over the next couple of days, if he does, we give him some chance for next week."
Slater's absence at the back against Fiji is offset by having South Sydney superstar Greg Inglis shift to his pet position.
However Sheens admitted it was not ideal to be making changes so deep into the tournament, with Slater's injury paving the way for Brent Tate to return to the side at left centre.
"You like you to go into the big games with a settled side, particularly on the edges defensively," Sheens said.
"We've had to make a few changes but I'm pretty comfortable with the fact that'll we'll perform well and Greg had a very good game against Fiji last time he played (at fullback)."
Australia beat Fiji 34-2 in a group match played in dreadful conditions in St Helens earlier this month, but Sheens expects the Bati will be much improved in the last-four showdown.
"They've nothing to lose and everything to gain so we're expecting a really tough game," the coach said.
While Fiji coach Rick Stone, who cancelled the team's captain's run at Wembley, is expected to stick with the team that beat Samoa 22-4 in last Sunday's quarter-final, Sheens has one injury concern to resolve before he can finalise his line-up.
"We've still got a small injury problem with one player so we'll sort that out today," he said.
Prop Matt Scott was seen having treatment to his back on the Wembley pitch before the start of training.
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