It was the limp that will have Canberra Raiders fans sweating in their Papali'i-Fogarty budgie smugglers.
But Raiders enforcer Josh Papali'i was confident his calf would win the race against time to be right for their NRL season opener - despite needing treatment during training on Monday.
If he's not ready to play the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday, Raiders co-captain Elliott Whitehead was confident their group of young forwards would be able to cover the absence of the State of Origin big bopper.