James Tedesco is back training but Wests Tigers teammates have quashed any hope of the star fullback playing in Sunday's big NRL final round clash with Canberra.
The sight of Tedesco running around Concord Oval would have heartened Tigers fans two weeks after he underwent surgery on a broken jaw.
However, the NSW Origin custodian will be relying on the ninth-placed Tigers sneaking into the finals if he's to play again this season.
Tedesco was initially expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks.
"He's coming along good," Tigers halfback Luke Brooks said.
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"He's two or three weeks from surgery so he's got a bit to do. He's running around but he's on no-contact but we'll see how he goes.
Asked if Tedesco was any chance to take on the Raiders at Leichhardt Oval, Brooks said: "Nah. No way."
The Tigers need North Queensland to beat eighth-placed Gold Coast on Saturday then they must beat the in-form Raiders if they are to claim a surprise finals berth.
Tedesco's injury was seen as a probable coup de grace to Jason Taylor's side's finals chances.
However they sprang an upset win over the Warriors last weekend to keep their hopes alive.
Winger Jordan Rankin echoed Brooks' thoughts on Tedesco.
"Mate, I tell you what, if he plays on the weekend it will be a miracle," Rankin said.
"He's got a broken jaw so I think he's still a few weeks away yet.
"Hopefully we can make the semi-finals and we can get him back then."
