Test forward Angus Crichton is set to turbo-charge the Sydney Roosters' forward pack as Trent Robinson confirmed the back-rower had received the green light to take on Cronulla.
Crichton, who will move to rugby union whenever the Roosters' season ends, hasn't played since round 15 as a result of a foot injury.
The 30-year-old was a late scratching in last week's qualifying final loss to Penrith.
But Robinson, who provided a glimmer of hope surrounding the fitness of halfback Sam Walker, confirmed 17-time State of Origin star Crichton had been cleared to face the Sharks in Saturday's semi-final at Allianz Stadium.
"(He's) ready to go," Robinson said on Friday.
"I don't think the standard of the game changes when it comes to Angus.
"He'll get on the field but he has played enough of these sort of quality games to get ready to go back in.
"He wasn't ready to go last week, that was the truth of it. He still had some issues last week and he hasn't had them this week, so ready to go."
Young tyro Salesi Foketi would likely make way for Crichton if Robinson chooses to start his experienced edge forward.
"He could start or come off the bench. Gus is ready to go, he'll be in the mix. He's going to hunt," Robinson said.
Victory against the Sharks would send the Roosters into a preliminary final against the Dolphins and Robinson is hopeful Walker will be ready to feature, should his side get past a Cronulla team led by his former protege Craig Fitzgibbon.
Walker underwent ankle surgery three weeks ago but has been back running in a positive sign for Easts' hopes of winning the premiership.
"It's good (Walker had) another good progression this week," Robinson said.
"(He needs to) keep going. There's a little bit less weight on that ankle compared to other guys in our game, so he's progressing well.
"He's a chance (to play next week).
"Most of those guys end up doing running, straight line running, and all of that, whereas he's back into some free movement and into some training, so that's a real positive."
Robinson's side enter Saturday's meeting with Cronulla off a six-day turnaround from the Penrith game and they face the same shortened period of rest if they get past the Sharks to face the Dolphins.
The NRL's finals draw has been complicated by the Warriors making the top four and the flow-on effect of scheduling games at times which suit both Australian and New Zealand broadcasters.
By contrast Newcastle, who face the Warriors on Sunday, will be given a nine-day break between their week-one finals win over Souths.
But Robinson refused to call foul over his side's shortened lead-in to the most important games of the Roosters' season.
"I think we'll do whatever it takes to play finals," Robinson said. "That's as simple as it is.
"I think it's a real fair question around how it's scheduled and why we schedule them in this way, but they're the cards we're dealt and we're ready to play on six days, five days, four days, whatever it takes."
