Parramatta hope five-eighth Dylan Brown could return as soon as next week as they prepare for their third shot at Melbourne in the finals in four years.
Brown suffered a syndesmosis injury four weeks ago, and was not expected to return until the second week of the finals at the earliest.
But coach Brad Arthur confirmed on Saturday night there was some chance he could come back earlier in what would shape as a massive boost for the Eels.
If not, Arthur has a decision to make.
Jai Field was the initial replacement for Brown, but he and Mitchell Moses have hardly set the world on fire together in the halves.
Field missed Saturday night’s 28-24 win over the Wests Tigers with a minor niggle, giving journeyman Will Smith the chance at five-eighth.
Smith took it with both hands, scoring the crucial go-ahead try late when he ran the ball and leaving Arthur with a potential headache for next week.
“I’m not sure what’s happening with Dyl, if it will be next week or the following week,” Arthur said.
“(Will) was pretty good, he came up with a nice try at the end of the the game for us.
“I thought he had some nice touches and good kicks.
“A couple of our kick finishes we need to be better. But overall I thought our attack was pretty good.”
The Eels are certain to get Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Michael Jennings back for the final, after both were rested against the Tigers.
The qualifying final against Melbourne will mark their fourth finals clash with the Storm since 2017.
The Eels pushed before being beat 18-16 in the same fixture in 2017, but were blown out of the water 32-0 in a sudden-death semi-final last year.
But regardless, Arthur insisted his team was now a far different side to the one beaten by the Storm last year.
“I reckon the last 15 minutes (coming back from 24-16 down against the Wests Tigers to make the top four) showed that,” Arthur said.
“We wouldn’t have been able to pull that back (last year).
“Because the Tigers have showed when they get momentum they are really hard to contain.
“That’s the starting point for us.”
