Tom Opacic has downplayed the severity of the hamstring injury that forced him out of Parramatta's resounding semi-final win, saying he would have finished the game had the result been in the balance.
Opacic was one of four first-half tryscorers for the Eels but came off as the hour-mark approached and was Parramatta's only injury concern from the 40-4 defeat of Canberra.
The centre's left hamstring has been on ice since Friday's game but he was expected to train on Monday afternoon after reporting no soreness ahead of the session.
The 28-year-old has no history of hamstring injuries and is hopeful of lining up against his former club North Queensland in Friday night's preliminary final.
"I'll be doing my best to get out there. It's not a game I want to miss, that's for sure," he told reporters.
Opacic said there was no specific moment that led to the injury and that he would have played through the pain had his side not had their commanding 28-4 lead at the time.
"I didn't feel a pop or a pull or anything it just got tighter as I kept running," he said.
"If the game was in the balance, there was no way I was putting my hand up (to go off).
"I didn't feel it go completely so I knew it wasn't something that would have ruled me out for the season. It was more that I didn't aggravate it or do anything significant."
Eels utility Marata Niukore slotted into the left centre spot when Opacic left the field, and scored two late tries.
Niukore started last season in the centres for the Eels and appears the most obvious choice if Opacic is ruled out.
The 26-year-old said he enjoyed strong chemistry with Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown, who marshals the left edge, and would happily slot in again if called on.
"(Brown and I) defended together on the right edge when I was at centre last year and there's no difference if I go out to the left side," Niukore told AAP.
"I trust in him and he trusts me to make my tackles. We work pretty well together.
"There are people around me doing great things, so for me it'd just be about going out there and doing my job really well."
