It's official, Dylan Lucas will be a chance to play in Sunday's semi-final.
The Knights back-rower has been named in Newcastle's 22-man squad for the do-or-die clash against the Warriors, the first step to him potentially taking part.
Lucas is aiming to make a shock return from a serious ankle injury in the 4pm (AEST) match at Eden Park in Auckland.
He trained in a field session at Newcastle's centre of excellence in Broadmeadow on Tuesday, showing few signs of the dislocated and fractured ankle he suffered on July 24.
But whether the representative forward makes it into Newcastle's game-day side - and onto the field - remains to be seen.
The fact that he is even a chance to feature has shocked fans and Lucas' teammates alike, given his injury - which required surgery - was initially considered season-ending.
"Crazy recovery," back-rower Francis Manuleleua, who has played on the left edge in place of Lucas, said on Tuesday.
"That's just a credit to him; looking after his body, eating the right foods.
"If he's back, that's a good boost for us boys, and good luck to the Warriors boys if he plays."
It will only be eight weeks by the time of Sunday's game since Lucas went down in the 25th minute of a 23-22 loss to the Roosters at McDonald Jones Stadium in round 21.
A full recovery was previously slated to be 12 weeks.
Lucas was not made available for media by the Knights on Tuesday, but hooker Phoenix Crossland said he expected him to do everything possible to play.
"It's awesome," Crossland said.
"I know Dyl pretty well, and I know he's not going to take no for an answer and he'll be doing everything he can to get back.
"But the great thing about the team at the moment, we aren't relying on him to play to make sure we are fielding a good team ... I think the back-rowers that have come in have exceeded expectations and played well above their weight.
"Dyl will be doing everything he can to play, but at the end of the day ... no matter who gets named in the team and who ends up playing, we know we can do a job."
Back-up hooker Harrison Graham expressed genuine surprise at Lucas' possible return.
But he thought there would be a few hurdles for the 26-year-old to overcome this week.
Lucas has missed the past six games, including Friday's inspiring 20-10 elimination-final win over South Sydney.
"An Origin player throughout the year and he has done heaps for the club," Graham said of Lucas.
"An attacking threat, he's good in defence, he is a key player and brings good morale around the group.
"But in terms of his selection, I know just as much as you, I just saw that yesterday and this morning.
"It would be good. I reckon he has got a few boxes to tick this week, definitely, but that's pretty exciting if he is in the mix, especially this time of the year."
Newcastle have named the exact same side that beat the Rabbitohs last week. Lucas' inclusion in the squad comes at the expense of uncapped hooker Diesel Hagan.
The Warriors, who are coming off a 26-16 loss to the Dolphins on Saturday, will be without forward Jackson Ford (ankle), but try-scoring winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been named among their reserves and appears a chance to return from a collarbone injury.
Leka Halasima, who was withdrawn in the warm-up before Saturday's game after a hamstring complaint, is also among their reserves.
Knights (vs Warriors)
1.Kalyn Ponga (C), 2. Dom Young, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Fletcher Sharpe, 7. Sandon Smith, 8. Tyson Frizell, 9. Phoenix Crossland, 10. Cody Hopwood, 11. Jermaine McEwen, 12. Francis Manuleleua, 13. Mat Croker. BENCH: 14. Harrison Graham, 15. Lachlan Courch, 16. Pasami Saulo, 17. Tom Cant, 18. Fletcher Hunt, 19. Toby Winter. RESERVES: 20. Kyle McCarthy, 21. Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana, 22. Dylan Lucas.
- Josh Callinan
Will Dylan Lucas take the field this weekend?
That's one of the key questions doing the rounds leading into week two of NRL finals.
And it may not well be answered until the Newcastle Knights run out to face the Warriors at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon (4:05pm AEDT).
The Newcastle Herald understands Lucas, less than two months after undergoing surgery on what was first feared to be a season-ending ankle injury, is expected to be named by the Knights on Tuesday.
Training obviously continues this week before the Novocastrians travel to Sydney on Thursday and fly out for New Zealand on Friday. A captain's run is scheduled for the famed Auckland venue on Saturday.
The initial 22-man squad will then of course be reduced 24 hours prior to Newcastle's upcoming do-or-die semi and again, eventually to the final 19, counting down to kick-off.
In Lucas' absence during the latter stages of this campaign, Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua have both performed strongly while starting in the second-row.
There's also the six-man bench to consider with two players generally going unused unless a concussion substitution gets activated.
So whether or not Lucas actually makes it out into the middle remains to be seen.
However, the fact that the NSW Origin representative finds himself poised to be listed signals that he's closing in on what would be a miraculous-style comeback.
Much to the delight, you would think, of coach Justin Holbrook plus red and blue fans.
September 20 will mark 58 days since the original incident.
Lucas dislocated his ankle and suffered two additional fractures in a horror setback on July 24, going down 25 minutes into a fixture against the Roosters at McDonald Jones Stadium.
He was taken off in a medi-cab and transported straight to hospital.
Lucas, afterwards on his own Instagram account, wrote: "26 cut short, back soon".
He was sporting a CAM boot on the sidelines when the Knights returned to play at home against the Titans the following month (August 16).
But early last week, before the Knights accounted for the Rabbitohs 20-10 in an elimination game at Allianz Stadium, Lucas was seen running lightly alongside staff at club headquarters in Broadmeadow.
The 26-year-old was then trackside to support his teammates in the state capital on Friday night.
Reports about a potential return started to emerge over the weekend, with last year's wooden spooners still alive in the premiership hunt.
Now, in an age-old race against the clock, can Lucas prove his fitness in time? And if so, how would he be utilised?
Panelists on Sunday Night with Matty Johns debated the topic.
Bryan Fletcher brought up "mail going around that he might be a chance of playing".
Nathan Hindmarsh seemed doubtful saying "he'd have to be at absolute 100 percent" and asking "where would you slot him in there?" A bench role was suggested.
Fletcher replied: "If he's available pick him. If he can do a job, you'd have Dylan Lucas in your side.
Todd Carney, a special guest, added: "If he's around 80 percent or 90 percent, do you run the risk of not playing him and progress to next week and then he's 100 percent. Or do you bring him in and you do progress and you lose him because he's underdone."
NRL Physio, a prominent X (Twitter) handle, suggested Lucas would take the record for quickest recovery from that specific injury, a fortnight ahead of the 10-week lay-off experienced by Aidan Guerra in 2019.
World Cup is also on the horizon.
It's anticipated the Knights will be otherwise unchanged.
Meanwhile, in NRLW and Newcastle rookie Charley Lahmert can elect to take a fine and avoid suspension for dangerous contact, leaving her free to play this weekend's semi against the Broncos in Brisbane.
