The Dolphins will take a cautious approach with star half Isaiya Katoa as he closes in on a comeback from a broken wrist.
The 22-year-old playmaker trained on Monday with a left arm guard for protection in a light session with the side ahead of Friday night's away clash with St George Illawarra.
Katoa is likely to be named in the 22 by the Dolphins on Tuesday barring any mishap, but a decision on whether he plays will be taken after he attempts further contact.
Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King said Katoa was on track to play in a fortnight against Brisbane, rather than against the Dragons.
"It is good to see him back on the field, but I think he is another week away," Marshall-King said.
"He's just come on the (training) field and you don't want to rush him back for him to get injured again. You want to make sure he is fully right because we have finals after six weeks."
Katoa did a series of light contact drills with performance chief Jeremy Hickmans on the weekend during the club's bye round, but the real test will come later in the week.
Katoa broke his left wrist during the 26-24 NRL win over the Warriors in round 17.
He missed the 13-12 loss to Newcastle and 66-0 thrashing by Cronulla, but the Dolphins rallied to defeat North Queensland 36-16 without him.
The Tonga playmaker is the sixth-placed side's most influential player, but is so crucial to the team's title quest that the Dolphins will not put him back in the fray unless they are 100 per cent confident he is right.
Former Penrith utility Brad Schneider has played half in his absence, but the Dolphins are blessed to have ball-playing locks Max Plath and Kurt Donoghoe in the 17.
Donoghoe, who plays in the halves for Fiji, came off the bench against the Cowboys and laid on two tries with silky passes that Katoa would have been proud of.
Plath, who like Donoghoe grew up playing in the halves, also has the creativity to chime in and act as a virtual extra playmaker.
In other good news for the Dolphins, centre Jack Bostock will return from the concussion he sustained playing for NSW in the State of Origin decider.
Outside back Jake Averillo (ribs) and tough forward Ray Stone (shoulder) also trained with the main group as they close in on returns from injury.
The Dolphins, on 28 points, need just two wins from their remaining six games to play finals for the first time.
However, their aspirations are far higher than that and a top-four position is still within their grasp - if they are good enough.
The Dolphins will train on Tuesday in Redcliffe before flying south on Wednesday. They will have their captain's run in Wollongong on Thursday before taking on the last-placed Dragons.
Australian Associated Press
