The Sydney Roosters are confident of being at full strength for their NRL grand final qualifier with Boyd Cordner playing down a quad complaint and Jake Friend tipped to return from a broken arm.
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Trent Robinson's side made a powerful statement in their 30-6 qualifying final defeat of South Sydney on Friday night as they seek to become the first side since 1993 to win back-to-back titles.
They will now enjoy the week off, allowing them to lick their wounds and have all hands on deck for their preliminary final in a fortnight.
Cordner sent a scare through the Roosters camp during their big win over the Rabbitohs at the SCG, limping off six minute before halftime with a quad injury.
The NSW and Roosters captain insisted he would have gone out in the second half, however given they were up 26-0 at the break, there was no need to risk it.
The injury occurred on the same leg as the hamstring problem which recently kept him out for five rounds, but he said he would be right given his side has earned next weekend off.
"It wasn't too bad, I could have pushed through the game if I had to," Cordner said.
"I wasn't 100 per cent carrying the football. I don't think it's too serious, just the situation in the game, where we were, I just thought it was smart.
"If I was needed I probably would have been sweet to go back on."
Winger Daniel Tupou also come off in the second half after aggravating a groin injury suffered during the week, but Robinson was adamant it was purely precautionary.
Robinson also said luckless hooker Jake Friend was finally set to return from a fractured forearm which has kept him out for the last two months.
Friend has played just five games this year after tearing his bicep before injuring himself in just his second game back against Newcastle in July.
His return was also pushed back after he contracted an infection in his broken arm.
But he has resumed training and begun contact work in signs which bode well for his comeback.
"You'd think (he will play in their preliminary final) with the way he was training this week, with the way the arm is improving," Robinson said.
"So I think he was pretty excited in the box there. He gets that extra week, I think he'll be right."
Australian Associated Press
