Shuttle runs are part and parcel of an NRL pre-season training session, but the simple drill could end Canberra hooker Kurt Baptiste's season before it even begins.
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Baptiste is facing a long stint on the sidelines after rupturing his left Achilles just weeks after re-signing with the Raiders for two more seasons.
Coach Ricky Stuart was shattered for Baptiste, but almost immediately the focus turned to an "aggressive" rehabilitation regime that he hopes will have the bench hooker back on the paddock sooner than hoped.
Baptiste had surgery on Thursday to repair the damage and will be assessed "over the course of the next 10 days" to determine a time frame for his return.
"It's very disappointing," Stuart said.
"He is coming off the back of a strong season last year and it was a very simple injury, just doing it while he was doing some shuttle running.
"It's always a huge disappointment when it happens at the start of the season, and when you're in the off-season.
"He was operated on yesterday, the doctors did a great job getting him in 24 hours after the accident.
"Now we've just got to jump right into the rehab and get working on it as aggressively as we can, so we can get him back ready to go as early as we possibly can."
Stuart said there are a number of trains of thought going around about how long Baptiste will spend on the sidelines but refused to speculate – his sole focus is Baptiste's wellbeing.
"He's had the operation now, just have to wait and see where he's at over the course of the next 10 days after the operation settles down and see where he's at," Stuart said.
With first-choice hooker Josh Hodgson still a month away from a return to training after a Four Nations campaign, Stuart has full confidence in Adam Clydsdale to fill the void.
Baptiste forged a lethal combination with Hodgson in 2016, with Stuart often leaving the pair on at the same time to create another option in attack.
With Baptiste set to be ruled out of a large chunk of the upcoming season, Stuart says he won't be rushing into any decisions on who will wear the No.14 jumper.
"We've got Adam there, and we've got other guys there that have got the ability to play utility roles," Stuart said.
"We'll let the off-season and our pre-season work be the judge there [on who will play as the bench utility]. Adam played some first grade last year so it's fortunate to have a great fill in such as Adam Clydsdale."
Clydsdale has played 44 NRL games, with his four appearances for the Raiders coming in the latter part of the 2016 season.
Prior to joining the Green Machine he was a staple in the starting 17 at the Newcastle Knights for two seasons.
Clydsdale could find himself locked in a battle with English import Jordan Turner for the vacant utility role.
But Stuart said nobody has mentioned using Turner as a back-up hooker – Turner's preference is to play in the outside backs or the halves.
Should Stuart opt to go without two hookers in 2017, Turner will be well placed to force his way into the squad and add a new dynamic.
"I prefer to play in the halves or centre, but depending on the way [Stuart] wants to go next year, maybe I might be able to get a utility bench spot," Turner said.
"I'd just be happy to make the squad for round one, that comes first and then we'll see how we go from there."
