NZ Warriors star Shaun Johnson probably won't train much this week, but the heat has gone out of his injury concerns before Saturday's NRL preliminary final against Brisbane Broncos.
Johnson and his niggly calf stole the spotlight from his team's build-up against Newcastle Knights last week, after he was a late scratching for the Warriors' first-round playoff defeat to Penrith Panthers.
His limited training time fuelled speculation that he might again withdraw from the sudden-death fixture, but he ultimately steered the Auckland-based team to victory over the Knights at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart - probably his finest moment in a 10-year Warriors career.
All along, coach Andrew Webster insisted he was confident his veteran half would front, but this week, he admits he's far more sure of Johnson's fitness and intends naming the same squad to face Brisbane.
Along with forwards Marata Niukore and Mitch Barnett, Johnson ran apart from the team on Tuesday and will probably continue in that vein for the rest of the week.
"We just did a walkthrough and they did some stuff when you guys left," Webster told media. "Shaun was never going to train, as you can imagine - we're not going to put ourselves at risk.
"No mindgames, they'll be fine to play."
Niukore left the field briefly with a knee injury against Newcastle, but returned shortly after. The other injury concern was forward Josh Curran, who dislocated a finger, but also returned with the offending digit well strapped.
"I wouldn't like it to happen to me - I'm not downplaying it - but it's six again for him."
Webster admits he's erring on the side of caution with Johnson, 33, who has turned back the clock to establish himself as a leading Dally M Medal contender for NRL Player of the Year.
"He pulled up well," he said. "We could probably do more with Shaun, but we're not going to risk it.
"We need to get him to the starting line, and make sure everyone is fit and ready to go. We're just being smart."
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