Cameron Murray has only an "outside chance" of recovering from injury in time for South Sydney's last game before teams are picked for State of Origin II, interim coach Ben Hornby says.
Murray has been picked for every Origin match when fit since 2019, but missed game one with a hip injury that had been expected to sideline him for between six and eight weeks from early May.
Murray earned his NRL debut under Michael Maguire in 2017 and is a natural fit for the all-heart, no-nonsense brand of football the former Rabbitohs boss is preaching to his Blues.
But the 26-year-old may still be sidelined for Souths' round-15 clash against Brisbane, their last game before Origin II teams are selected that weekend.
In that case, picking Murray would mean taking a punt on a player who has not played since May 2.
"At the moment with Cam, he's an outside chance of playing next week," Hornby said ahead of Saturday's clash with Gold Coast.
"He's just week-to-week, ticking the boxes as we go."
Hornby said Murray was taking steps to recover from the injury he suffered in the round-nine loss to Penrith, the Rabbitohs' first game after sacking coach Jason Demetriou.
"He ran well today, so if he ticks another box we'll see how he goes on the weekend and then tick another box for next week," Hornby said.
Both teams are looking to book successive wins as they try to make a mid-season charge up the ladder, with the Titans 13th and the Rabbitohs anchoring the table.
Having missed selection in the Maroons' series opener on Wednesday, star back-rower David Fifita will be out to make a statement, while the Titans also have their play-making captain Kieran Foran and winger Jojo Fifita returning from injury.
Fullback Jayden Campbell has been named on the bench after recovering from a knee injury suffered in round six.
Souths veteran Cody Walker has also overcome a calf issue to partner Jack Wighton in the halves.
