Brisbane captain Adam Reynolds remains confident he will return to action for the finals despite a training glitch that set him back this week.
The 35-year-old re-injured the hamstring he tore in the round-23 clash with Melbourne while training on Wednesday.
The Broncos told AAP a review of his injury on Friday would give them a clearer picture of the best way forward.
Reynolds told Triple M there was "always a chance of re-injuring it" as he explained what happened.
"Unfortunately it tightened up so I got off the field pretty quick and made sure I didn't get any further damage to it. I'm still on schedule," he said.
"I should be back for the first week of the finals.
"It's probably my fault for pushing it a bit too much to try and get back. I'm quite eager to get back out there with the team.
"I feel like we're in a good spot at the moment and I want to contribute. It's tough watching from the sideline but I've also got to recognise that the boys are doing a great job as well."
Reynolds won't play against North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday night and with the short turnaround for the final-round home clash with Melbourne the following Thursday he won't be risked.
"He's just got to keep at it. He'll definitely be right at some stage. It is just a matter of when," coach Michael Maguire said.
"We were pretty close this week. We will be pretty close next week.
"All the information was showing that he was doing really well. We have great staff managing and monitoring.
"Reyno will keep working hard. It is always disappointing when you have got a player as close as he is to myself go through that, but it is all about the team. He'll double down and make sure he works hard."
League legend Andrew Johns said on Channel Nine the Broncos were no chance of winning the title without halfback Reynolds and injured five-eighth Ezra Mam if the duo did not return in finals.
Mam, also out with a hamstring tear, is long odds to return this year.
The Broncos, in fifth position, will play in the finals series and could finish anywhere from fourth to seventh on the ladder.
In a positive sign, Brisbane have won their last two games, against the Dolphins and Newcastle, without Reynolds and Mam.
New halves combination Billy Walters and veteran Ben Hunt have done a great job, but beating the top sides without their talismanic skipper will be an immense challenge.
Both Reynolds and 35-year-old Hunt are expected to retire at the end of next year, although Hunt will make a call mid-season, and that would leave a void of over 650 games of experience.
The premiership window may not be as open for the Broncos then as it will be in the next 14 months.
If they can get it right in the next month and go on a winning run anything is possible. Reynolds is key to that, however.
Until he gets back, Maguire has faith the players picked can do the job.
"Hunty has jumped in there at seven. Billy is doing a great job and the spine," Maguire said.
"I am happy with where we are but I know as a club and as a playing group we are not satisfied, which is a really nice place to be as a coach. They are pushing hard both on and off the field."
