Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic is a chance to make a shock return from injury in Friday's NRL clash with strugglers Newcastle.
Less than four weeks after suffering knee and ankle injuries, the Sea Eagles' ace has been named on an extended bench and is pushing his case to be cleared to play.
The 20-year-old was slated to miss six to eight weeks with a medial ligament strain and syndesmosis injury, however is a chance to return a month ahead of schedule.
Scheduled on Tuesday to resume training with teammates, he has begun running on his injured leg.
Coach Trent Barrett could yet rest him for another week, especially with the side having a bye the following weekend.
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However, Manly's backline stocks have been stretched with winger Jorge Taufua out for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and Trbojevic's return could prove timely for the sixth-placed Sea Eagles.
"I hope he plays this week - I know he's close," Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans said.
"That's a huge bonus for us considering the circumstances that have arisen with Jorge being ruled out for the year."
Before his injury against Brisbane in round 10, Trbojevic was considered one of the form fullbacks of the NRL.
This year, he has made 13 linebreaks - the second most in the competition and is averaging 165 metres.
He had been pencilled in for a State of Origin debut for NSW on the left wing and an early return would allow him to push his case for the rest of the series, should coach Laurie Daley suffer an injury in his backline.
"He's got an aura about him," Manly centre Dylan Walker said.
"When you see him around the dressing room and that he's playing, you know you've got to step up your game a little bit as well."
Meanwhile, Johnathan Thurston has been named on an extended bench for North Queensland as he attempts to prove his fitness ahead of Origin II.
The Cowboys' playmaker has been out since the May 5 Anzac Test due to a shoulder problem, with coach Paul Green naming rookie Kyle Laybutt at five-eighth should Thurston not receive clearance to take on Parramatta in Darwin.
