Brisbane Broncos playmaker Ezra Mam is under an injury cloud after failing to finish training on Monday ahead of selection for the crosstown derby against the Dolphins.
But that blow to the club has been outweighed by the unexpected return of star fullback Reece Walsh from a facial fracture that he suffered just two weeks ago.
The Murri man was listed to miss four to six weeks, but he got through his first full-contact session at Red Hill to impress coach Kevin Walters.
Walsh wore a distinctive pink headgear for the run and looked more confident than uncomfortable that delighted his Indigenous teammate Kotoni Staggs.
"He's done everything right to be back with the team," the Wiradjuri man said.
"All of his rehab went well, and it's good to have him back out on the park doing what he does best.
"It's a big boost for us, and hopefully come Friday night, he can do a job.
"One thing he's picked up is the way that he goes about his injuries.
"He got on top of everything and he's back earlier than expected.
"That's just from him doing all the hard yards that people don't see behind our walls."
Walsh's inclusion is set to send replacement fullback Tristian Sailor to the bench.
Staggs was unsure about where Mam stood on Monday, but the star Kuku Yalanji and Torres Strait Islands man hobbled off early in the session with a suspected corked knee before Walters names his run-on side on Tuesday.
The injury is located at the top of his knee and Mam will not require scans before the selection to prove his fitness for Friday night's NRL blockbuster.
Mam instead underwent intense physiotherapy treatment on Monday afternoon to be fit for another training run on Tuesday.
The call will me made based on whether he satisfactorily gets through the minimum requirements to be passed fit.
The club was not prepared to name Mam on its website among its injured or players that remain in doubt.
The 21-year-old's injury concerns is a worry for the Broncos after halves partner and skipper Adam Reynolds injured his hamstring in the loss to Melbourne Storm a week ago and is unlikely to recover from the minor strain.
