The Newcastle Knights have received a massive boost ahead of Sunday's qualifying final against the Melbourne Storm with the news Kiwi centre Junior Sa'u has been cleared to play.
Sa'u underwent a number of tests on his injured ankle at training on Thursday and has declared himself fit for the do-or-die clash against the minor premiers at AAMI Park.
"I am 100 per cent and ready to go," Sa'u said at end of a sharp training session on Thursday morning.
"I have done all the tests and there are no dramas at all."
"This is my first time training with the boys in a couple of weeks and I am feeling really good."
"I am 100 per cent and I wouldn't clear myself if there was something wrong."
Knights coach Rick Stone described Sa'u's inclusion as a 'big boost' for his team leading into Sunday's crunch encounter.
"He (Sa'u) has been an important part of our team now for a number of years and to have our two first choice centres in Junior and Doogs (Adam MacDougall) back for the semi-finals is ideal," said Stone.
"He has got through everything we threw at him."
Sa'u injured his ankle in the 26-6 Round 24 loss to the Broncos a couple of weeks ago and thought at the time his season was over.
But with some recovery time and some 'extra activity' at home he was able to nurse his ankle back to full fitness.
"Just ice and a lot of dancing at home," joked the Kiwi international of his method of recovery.
"As the days went by the swelling came down and last week I started running on it and it felt pretty good."
"I could have played last week, but I just took the extra week off to be safe and I have run on it now for a few weeks and it feels pretty good."
Sa'u said he is relishing the chance to play in his second semi-finals series and said to 'bring on' the extra defensive responsibilities faced when Dally M winner Billy Slater chimes into the Storm backline.
"That is their preferred side and I am looking to really test myself," he said.
"We just have to work as a pack and be on our game. We have to run up with the right attitude and work for each other."
"And it is always good to have Nev (Costigan) there to add a bit of mongrel to our D (defence). I just love playing alongside of him."
With all of the recent focus on Newcastle's lethal right-side combination of Adam MacDougall and Akuila Uate, Sa'u said that it offered him and winger James McManus the chance to 'slip under the radar' in attack.
"If you look at our left-hand side we have Stiggy (Ryan Stig) myself and Jimmy (McManus) - we do all the hard work and they (MacDougall and Uate) just finish it off," he jestered.
"We are at the semis now and it is every team for themselves. So I am looking forward to getting out there and putting in a good performance."