Tom Trbojevic has declared a pain-killing injection in his right shoulder won't impact his strength in Manly's knockout final against Canterbury.
Just two weeks after initially fearing his season was over while sitting in agony on the Accor Stadium turf, Trbojevic returns to the same ground on Sunday ready to go.
He will be the most-scrutinised player on the field as he holds the keys to Manly's finals fate in his hands.
But he insists there is nothing to worry about.
Scans have since confirmed Trbojevic suffered a grade-three tear in his AC joint, after copping friendly fire from teammate Luke Brooks in a tackle.
The fullback will take a needle to play, after also having injections in his left shoulder for the majority of the season for another ailment.
"The shoulder is really good. I trained with it on Sunday and yesterday, felt fine," Trbojevic said on Thursday.
"I'll train again later today and rest up for Sunday."
Asked whether he was concerned the latest injury would impact his strength or range of movement, Trbojevic said he had taken confidence from previous injuries.
"A lot of people get needles. I've done it before," he said.
"It's all fine. It feels fine. It will be good to go.
"I've only missed one game, so it's not like I am coming back from a long lay off. It's not like I haven't played footy for a long time.
"You just have to go back, focus on being the best you can at training and going out there and just performing."
Trbojevic cut a forlorn figure when hurt two weeks ago, in the latest of a series of unlucky blows for the 27-year-old.
The fullback had only spoken earlier that week about playing his best football since 2021, when he was the runaway Dally M Medal winner.
But he admitted he had initially feared the worst when hurt against the Bulldogs, with the shoulder injury coinciding with a bad gash to his face.
"I didn't know what it was. I have never had (a shoulder injury) to that extent. It was quite sore and I did fear the worst," Trbojevic said.
"I could feel my shoulder was sore, I was bleeding, I was trying to work out what was happening.
"But once I got in the rooms and worked out what it was, it was somewhat easier and I would be back playing footy in a few weeks."
Manly, meanwhile, remain unsure when Jason Saab will return through the finals with the flyer also injuring his ankle in the round-26 (34-22) win over the Bulldogs.
