Manly star Jake Trbojevic is pushing back on a recovery timeline in order to be fit to take the field in round 1 of the NRL season.
The Kangaroos lock underwent a shoulder reconstruction in November and was given a return date a few weeks into the 2020 season.
However, on Thursday the 25-year-old said he is pushing his physiotherapy as hard as possible to open the season against Melbourne at Lottoland on March 5.
“I had surgery a couple of months ago so hopefully I will get it right for round 1 but if not it will be earlier in the year, so it’s going well,” he said.
“You want to try and push for round 1 but realistically it might be a little bit later. I’m doing my best and that’s all you can do.
“Hopefully I’m there but if not, it’s a long season so if I have to miss a couple of games that’s the way it goes.”
The newly re-signed star visited the Australian cricket team on Thursday ahead of their Sydney Test, where he presented team manager Gavin Dovey with a signed Sea Eagles jersey ahead of his 100th Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.