NSW representative winger Brett Morris is expected to take the field for St George Illawarra tomorrow night after being put through a fitness test in Wollongong yesterday.
Morris injured the medial ligament in his left knee in the third State of Origin clash last week and the original diagnosis was that he would be sidelined for a month.
However, a grade two tear has since been downgraded to a strain and a week of rest and rehabilitation has paved the way for a return without missing a game for the Dragons.
Full coverage of the Dragons Dragons high-performance manager Jeremy Hickmans said he was pleased with Morris' progress after yesterday's session, which also involved fellow representative players Beau Scott, Darius Boyd and Neville Costigan.
"(Morris) did a decent rehab run and came through it well," he said.
"Provided he comes through it okay in the morning, I see no reason why he wouldn't play."
Hickmans revealed pre-existing bruising from a previous knock to the same knee made the injury look worse than it was.
Morris has scored 14 tries in as many NRL games this season.
If there is no major soreness or swelling around the knee this morning, Morris is expected to take part in the Dragons' final training session at WIN Stadium today.
If he is available, it sets him up for a mouth-watering duel with prolific South Sydney try scorer Nathan Merritt, who has 13 tries from 16 games so far this season.
Hickmans said there were no fitness concerns over the other three Origin players.
Meantime, Hickmans said injured centre Matt Cooper was expected to be available for Dragons selection next week.
"We could have pushed it and (Cooper) may even have been right for this week," he said.
"But at this stage of the season, we don't want to risk it too much, so hopefully he will be right to go next week."
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