Jack Payne remains in doubt for the Brisbane Lions' preliminary final against Carlton after the key defender was again restricted to light duties due to an ankle injury.
Payne wore a moon boot after the Lions' qualifying final win over Port Adelaide and has not trained fully since, the imposing back kept to light running in joggers at Tuesday's open training session in Springfield.
The club's medical report explained Payne would be assessed further on Thursday after "taking the next steps towards proving his fitness" on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old has become one of the Lions' most important players this year, filling the void left by retired Marcus Adams in a vital partnership with Harris Andrews in Brisbane's last line.
He matched up well on back-to-back Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow in the sides' only other clash in round eight this year, limiting the full forward to just one goal.
Darcy Gardiner, pushed out of the AFL squad by a resurgent Ryan Lester this season, shapes as the likely replacement if Payne can't prove his fitness.
"He's got a little bit of a sore foot and ankle," Andrews said of Payne before Tuesday's session.
"He's played a really vital part for us this year, so fingers crossed he's right to go.
"His development's been unreal for us. I feel like this year we've had to show that we've got great depth.
"Guys like Darragh Joyce and Darcy Gardiner; those guys can come in and play their role."
Blues forwards coach Ash Hansen jokingly suggested Lions boss Chris Fagan should make the call early in the week to save him some time.
"If Fages can let me know, it'll save me watching Jack for a while," he said.
"I'll study Gardiner as well and do all the right prep work so we can give the guys the best chance to play. From an offensive point of view it doesn't change our selection so much."
Gardiner has played just two AFL games this season - losses to Adelaide and Hawthorn - injury allowing Lester the chance to steal the 27-year-old's place in the back six.
He gives away about 10 kilograms and four centimetres to Payne, but Gardiner boasts 156 games of experience as a regular in the Lions' defence since 2014.
Irish talent Joyce managed five games while Lester and Gardiner were injured earlier this season and had four campaigns with St Kilda before heading north this year.
"I still approach the game the same way as I would if Payney was out there, regardless," Andrews said of how the selection impacts his own assignment.
"These guys have all played a lot of AFL football and understand how to play the game, so nothing has changed in that regard.
"We've gone away from having those really tight match-ups to playing in a system, and there's a really clear understanding ... of what needs to be done in each role."
