Josh Hoffman has left Brisbane training early with a suspected achilles strain ahead of Friday night’s NRL clash with South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium.

Broncos coach Anthony Griffin would not rule Hoffman out but said the pivot’s availability would be monitored in the next 24 hours.

Fullback Ben Barba – who has alternated between five-eighth and No.1 this season with Hoffman – is a possible replacement along with Lachlan Maranta.

Regular winger Maranta, heavily involved in Broncos training on Thursday, has played pivot in the second-tier Queensland Cup in recent weeks.

“It’s not a major thing. There was a little bit of soreness there for a few weeks,” Griffin said of Hoffman.

“We will just have to wait for a scan to clear him of damage and work back from there.”

Griffin has ruled out former skipper Sam Thaiday (calf) for the Souths clash.