Johnathan Thurston is in a race against time to be fit for State of Origin after North Queensland coach Paul Green confirmed a shoulder injury will sideline the halfback for three to six weeks.
It means the Cowboys superstar would need everything to go right in his rehabilitation to be fit for Origin I in Brisbane on May 31, having suffered a tear to the rotator cuff in his shoulder during last week's Anzac Test.
"There's no point speculating," Green told reporters in Townsville on Tuesday.
"Everyone gets excited if I say it's three weeks (but) then it could be anywhere from three weeks to six weeks.
"It depends on how the shoulder responds.
"That's why particularly with a player like that, I don't want to get everyone talking too much until we get a bit closer."
The Cowboys issued a vague press release on Monday that did not place a timeframe on the injury, other than to say Thurston did not require surgery and that it wouldn't end his season.
Green said the 34-year-old was never in danger of missing the rest of the year.
"Whoever said it was season-ending was way off the mark to start with. That was never put forward to us, that was never really a concern from my point," he said.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters has already declared he would give Thurston every chance to play in the Origin opener, but would consult with Thurston, halves partner Cooper Cronk and captain Cameron Smith before choosing a replacement.
Michael Morgan, Anthony Milford and Corey Norman are among the leading candidates should Thurston not recover in time.
The Anzac Test was Thurston's first match since suffering a calf injury in round six, which was the last time he played for the Cowboys.
Green said he had no idea if Thurston would be right for Origin but was hopeful his reputation as a "good healer" would mean a quicker recovery, with this his last year of representative football.
"He works hard, that's why he heals well. That's why people get back sooner rather than later," Green said.
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