New South Wales are confident Payne Haas will play in State of Origin I after scans only showed a minor tear in his left quad.
Haas was due to board a plane for Sydney on Monday afternoon, after he underwent scans in the morning that were largely positive.
The Brisbane powerhouse will be placed on a monitored workload ahead of next Wednesday's State of Origin series opener.
But Blues officials expect him to be able to take his spot, in what doubles as a massive boost for NSW.
Haas had pulled up sore from Brisbane's loss to St George Illawarra on Sunday, adding to a nightmare weekend for the Blues.
Centre Stephen Crichton picked up a minor groin niggle, while props Jacob Saifit (calf) and Jake Trbojevic (concussion) were both ruled out.
"It's amazing how it works out," NSW coach Laurie Daley said on entering Blues camp on Monday.
"It's like a Formula One race. Nothing happens, and then all of a sudden something occurs and there's carnage.
"(Payne)'s one of the best front-rowers in the game, if not the best.
"We're hoping that he can play and we're hoping that the scan will see nothing there and he'll be right to come down to Sydney and start preparing.''
Haas's left quad issue came after he had battled back soreness in the past fortnight.
Crichton has also entered camp with some concerns over his groin, but is not believed in serious doubt for next Wednesday's opener at Suncorp Stadium.
Daley, meanwhile, confirmed if Haas was to be out than Stefano Utoikamanu would come into the side and join Max King as a debutant.
That selection meant there would be no room for in-form Wests Tigers front-rower Terrell May regardless, who is a big-minute player like Haas.
Daley said he had not spoken to Haas about being overlooked and did not feel the need to.
But he also insisted he had not taken issue with May's social media comment last week, when he told a friend to chuck a NSW jersey he had bought him "in the bin".
"I just think the others played better than Terrell May," Daley said.
"All the things that I'm looking for from a player, Max King is playing outstanding.
"Terrell's playing great, but he needs to keep knocking on the door. I'm sure his time will come at some stage."
Scott Bailey - AAP
