NZ Warriors captain Tohu Harris is still considered a likely starter for the NRL playoffs, despite conflicting reports over his health this week.
The veteran lock is among seven regular starters rested from the regular season finale against the expansion Dolphins on Saturday, as coach Andrew Webster - for the first time, it seems - dares to look beyond his 'one game at a time' approach to his maiden campaign in charge.
With a top-four spot already locked in, the Warriors have taken the opportunity to rest fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, halves Luke Metcalf and Shaun Johnson, prop Addin Fonua-Blake and hooker Wayde Egan.
"The thing I took into account was, if someone had a niggle or there was someone I felt we needed to look after, then I wanted to do that this week," admitted Webster. "If you went through all the players who aren't playing, some might have needed right up to captain's run to play, even though they trained today.
"You've got to tick certain boxes, when you have a little niggle or injury, and if they don't tick those boxes, you don't play them.
"I'd kick myself if we lost players who had those little niggles. Every team in the NRL has them at this time of the year and the further you go in the competition, the more everyone gets."
The two most concerning injuries are to Harris, who is suffering back spasms from a tackle against St George Dragons last Friday, and Metcalf, who has virtually ruled himself out of the rest of the season with a hamstring strain, although Webster still considers him a possibility for a Grand Final.
"Gutted for him, gutted for the team," said Webster. "I thought he'd done a terrific job and was growing in confidence.
"Where he is as a player and the experience he had this year will only hold him in good stead."
Harris, 31, was declared "in doubt for the club's week one finals match" by the Warriors' team-naming release, seemingly confirming everyone's worst fears from earlier reports, but Webster insists this is not the case.
"I'm still trying to work out who said it was serious," he said. "It's one of those things - if you don't get it right, it can go the other way.
"It's lower back - you need it to move, you need it to bend over, you need it to do lots of things. We're just taking some care and making sure we're smart with it.
"There's certain things that are good for him, and that's to keep mobile and not sit down for long periods of time. We're super confident."
Webster says Harris' absence from the playing side was primarily to avoid the plane trip to Brisbane, which could easily aggravate the back complaint, but the skipper was also carrying a knee injury that has been managed through the campaign.
"The thing about flying, there's lots of injuries that aren't great for it, but a back would be the worst... or a blood clot probably, but it's not that," said Webster. "Training's actually the best thing for him, because he can stay mobile, and he actually trained really well today.
"He'll play next week, but he's going to have to work hard at his back to keep it where it is."
The result against the Dolphins - win or lose - will not affect the Warriors' post-season fate. They'll face either defending champions Penrith Panthers or tabletopping Brisbane Broncos in the first round.
Join Newshub at 5pm Saturday for live updates of the Warriors v Dolphins NRL clash
