Glenn Stewart will be given a stiff workout by the NSW medical team on Thursday morning as he looks to prove his fitness for next week’s State of Origin decider in Brisbane.

The Manly back-rower partially tore his medial ligament last week and was expected to miss the game at Suncorp Stadium but was named in an extended NSW squad on Sunday.

The 28-year-old walked around the field at Kogarah Oval before undertaking some bike work pitchside as his teammates were put through their paces by the Blues’ coaching staff.

He is expected to run later on Thursday and a Blues official said a decision could be made by the afternoon as to whether he is a realistic chance of making the game, which the Blues have to win to end a sequence of six successive series defeats.

Luke Lewis gave the clearest indication yet as to whether Stewart would play, by revealing the 2011 Clive Churchill Medal winner is privately confident of proving his fitness.

“He’s been working really hard, doing all his physio and being a real professional and doing everything he can to be right,” Lewis said.

“We’re all really hopeful that he will be able to do full training by Friday and by Sunday he can be in camp with us in Brisbane.

“He’s been doing a lot of little extras while we’ve not been training to get it right and that’s been outstanding. He’s giving himself every chance.”

Should Stewart miss out, then Beau Scott will take his place, with Trent Merrin or Ben Creagh likely to miss out.