Cessnock halfback Liam Foran has vowed to do "everything I can" as he races the clock in a bid to be fit for Sunday's Newcastle Rugby League decider.
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The Muswellbrook-based coal miner has already visited a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at a mate's place four times in the 48 hours since suffering a game-ending hamstring injury in the early stages of Saturday's semi-final victory.
He anticipates a few more sessions before the week is out and before deciding whether or not he'll line up against Souths at Maitland Sportsground on Sunday.
"I've had four sessions in the last day-and-a-half, I'll go again after work tonight and I'll probably be back there every day this week trying to get a bit more movement," Foran told the Newcastle Herald.
"I've been flat out with ice and compression as well.
"I want to do everything I can to try and play.
"It's a good opportunity and something I really want to be part of. I've really enjoyed my footy this year.
"I know how much it means to the club and I know how much work [coach] Todd Edwards has put in."
The former NRL and English Super League player is enjoying a second stint at Cessnock, having spent the last three seasons with Group 21 club Aberdeen.
Between 2017 and 2019, Foran has been named player of the year, won a premiership with the Tigers and featured in each grand final.
He was due to captain-coach Greta-Branxton in 2020 as they re-entered first grade but the Upper Hunter competition was cancelled on the back of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Foran switched to Cessnock on Newcastle RL season eve in July.
The 32-year-old was key to the Goannas' top-two finish and doesn't want to miss the upcoming showdown.
Foran said he has already noticed a considerable "improvement" and was "confident" of recovering in time but knows a call needs to be made at "some stage".
Training is scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.
He felt his left hamstring "grab" when stepping off that leg. Later in the same set he struggled to put through a grubber kick.
Although frustrated by watching most of the knockout encounter from the sidelines, Foran was impressed with the performance in a 38-14 win against Western Suburbs.
"The boys really stepped up, especially in that second half," he said.
Cessnock forward Tom Baker (knee) remains in doubt after undergoing scans on Monday, having also been taken from the field inside the opening 10 minutes of Saturday's play-off and not returning.
Gunnedah product Lincoln Smith, who missed selection for the Goannas on the weekend, shapes as a possible replacement.
The only previous Newcastle RL grand final meeting between Cessnock and Souths was in 1941. The Goannas won 18-3.
Kick-off is 3:15pm.
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Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
