Canberra Raiders centre Matt Timoko is in a race against time to be fit to face North Queensland on Thursday night.
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The short turnaround following their 14-point loss to the Melbourne Storm at Wagga Wagga on Saturday will count against him, but the 22-year-old vows to do everything he can to be fit to face the Cowboys.
Timoko copped a Xavier Coates knee in the back about nine minutes before half-time, when the Storm winger jumped for a Cameron Munster kick.
It's believed Timoko won't need scans, but it will come down to how he pulls up in the coming days.
His absence would open the door for Raiders co-captain Jarrod Croker to return to the team following knee and back issues that have kept him out since August - stranded on 291 NRL games.
Timoko could join a growing Canberra injury list that includes Josh Hodgson (knee), Jamal Fogarty (knee), Harley Smith-Shields (knee), Hudson Young (toe) and Sebastian Kris (isolation).
Raiders prop Josh Papalii wasn't one of the four players put on report in Wagga Wagga, but he was the only one charged by the match review committee.
He's been offered a $1000 fine with an early guilty plea for a cannonball tackle on Storm lock Josh King in the second half.
Timoko was unsure how he copped Coates' knee with his only concern getting fit for the Cowboys at Canberra Stadium.
"I'm not sure mate. I was going for an escort and I didn't really see what happened. I think I just pinched something in there," he told The Canberra Times.
"I'm not too sure how bad it is. We'll just see how it is over the next couple of days and we'll assess it from there.
"I struggled to run, but I just needed to get to half-time so the doctors could assess me.
"Then they said they were going to rule me out for the game, which was unfortunate.
"I'll do whatever I can in the next couple of days. Hopefully it settles down and I'll be right for Thursday."
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If Timoko was unable to play, then he said they had the perfect replacement in Croker waiting in the wings.
Kris could also be an option, but he's spent an extended time in isolation as a close contact.
"Exactly. Jarrod's been playing good footy. Who knows, I'm not sure what Ricky [Stuart]'s thinking. All I know is I'm going to do my best to get back for that game," Timoko said.
NRL ROUND SIX
Thursday: Canberra Raiders v North Queensland Cowboys at Canberra Stadium, 7.50pm.