The New Zealand Warriors could welcome back star forward Jackson Ford in a timely return from injury for the club's blockbuster finals clash against the Dolphins on Saturday.
Ford is aiming to make a return after a 12-week lay-off from a torn pectoral muscle, giving the Warriors a massive boost heading into the finals, according to fresh reports from CODE Sports.
The Gerringong Lions junior was in career-best form before he suffered his injury and was in the hot seat to make his NSW Blues debut in Game 3 before he was ruled out long-term two and a half weeks before the Brisbane decider.
Not only was he putting his hand up to don the sky blue, but he was leading the Dally M's at multiple stages in the first half of the season.
Ford's incredible form makes him an automatic inclusion if he is fit, creating a significant selection headache for Webster, whose interchange forward rotation has been outstanding throughout the latter months of the season.
Tanner Stowers-Smith and Demitric Vaimauga have been sensational in replacing the one-two punch the Warriors establish when starting James Fisher-Harris and Mitchell Barnett.
The Warriors confirmed in June that Ford will be out for 12 weeks, marking this weekend an appropriate timeline for a return date.
Meanwhile, star winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is also firming for a return just after three weeks post-surgery from a fractured collarbone sustained in Round 25 against South Sydney.
It is understood coach Andrew Webster is willing to give his players every possible chance to prove their fitness before making a call later in the week.
The Warriors have proven to be a handful on big occasions at home.
The Panthers visited Go Media Stadium in early August and were dominated from the get-go, with the Dolphins looking down the barrel of the same fate.
The NRL's latest expansion club successfully thwarted the Roosters in Round 26, and the Titans a week later, but will have to find an extra gear to keep up with the Kiwi juggernaut.
The qualifying final kicks off on Saturday afternoon at 4pm (AEST).
Meanwhile, the Rabbitohs host the Knights on Friday, with Saturday's action continuing with the Sharks hosting the Cowboys at Allianz Stadium, then the Roosters face the Panthers at home on Sunday.
