If Jarrod Croker's shoulder's not ready by Monday, the Canberra Raiders co-captain will put the team first to give them the best preparation for the Wests Tigers.
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Rather than be named on Tuesday and given until the last minute to prove his fitness for round one at Canberra Stadium next Sunday, he wants to make the call at the start of the week.
And the Raiders centre has anointed Sebastian Kris as the young gun likely to take his place if he's not ready.
It would mean the Raiders would need to make a decision about filling up their 30th-and-final spot on the roster with Kris, who is on a train-and-trial deal at the moment.
Croker has returned to full contact training after the surgeon gave him the all clear at the start of the week.
He had surgery in the off-season after injuring his shoulder in the preliminary final last year.
The 30-year-old's the only injury concern for the Green Machine heading into the opening round.
"I probably won't know until Monday. We do screening every couple of days and I'll let it rest over the weekend, see how it pulls up, screen on Monday," Croker said.
"There's no big secrets anymore is there. People will know Monday-Tuesday if I'm playing or not. I don't think the Tigers are real worried to be honest.
"I'll see how it is. I don't want to rush it. If it's no good I won't [play]. It's a long year.
"If I can get through the screening and I'm ready to play I'll play."
MORE RAIDERS NEWS
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart will name a 21-man squad on Tuesday, which will only be whittled down to 19 the day before the game and the final 17 an hour before the game.
It means Stuart could name Croker and give him until the last minute to be ready.
Croker would rather make an early call rather than rush.
"I'd rather say I'm right to go or I'm not right to go. We'll make the decision pretty early and if it's not that it'll be the next week or two after," he said.
"I'm not too concerned. It's not fun missing games. Hopefully I don't have to, but we'll see how it is."
Kris and Harley Smith-Shields filled the left centre void in last weekend's trials, with Kris appearing to have the edge at this stage.
He would need to be elevated into the top 30 to play the Tigers.
The Raiders have one spot left to fill, but have until June 30 before they have to fill it.
Kris spent the 2020 NRL season on extended sick leave, before returning to the fold during the off-season.
He scored three tries in four games in 2019, after making his debut against South Sydney.
The Raiders also have a couple of other youngsters in the mix along with Kris.
Both Smith-Shields and Matt Timoko could also slot in on the left edge.
"I guess Sebby Kris. He started that [trial] game, he played pretty well," Croker said.
"He's had a massive pre-season. Obviously had the year off and came back and he's flying.
"He's winning all the fitness and we saw how well he played the year before when he was here, so I'd say Sebby.
"Obviously there's a lot of competition there, which is good. We've got really good depth in our squad - our forwards and backs.
"Young Harley and Matty Timoko there. I'd hate to be picking that side on Monday."
NRL ROUND ONE
March 14: Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm.