Eels skipper Nathan Cayless is desperate to play in Sunday’s grand final against the Melbourne Storm, so much so that he is willing to risk tearing his hamstring in a fitness test before the big game. <br><br>“Later in the week ill do a fitness test and ill give it a real good workout,” the Eels prop admitted on BigPond Sports Weekend.<br> <br>“I’m really going to give it a hammering… for about 40 minutes or an hour. If I get through that session and get through the team run then I’ll go into the game with a lot of confidence.<br><br>“If there’s a chance that it’s [the hamstring] going to go again… I’d say I’d tear it in the fitness test.<br> <br>“I definitely don’t want to risk doing it early, [in the grand final] it’s just not fair on the other guys.”<br><br>Cayless suffered the injury in Friday night’s win over arch rivals the Bulldogs. <br><br>The Kiwi international limped from the ground fearing an end to his premiership dream. However, scans have revealed that the injury may just be a twinge or minor tear which he could overcome to lead his side this weekend. <br><br>“I haven’t had much sleep since the game on Friday night, [I’ve] just been icing the leg up.<br><br>“[I’m] just trying to do as much as I can to get out there next Sunday.”<br><br>Cayless revealed he will commit to a strenuous week of physiotherapy as well as follow some handy simple tips from a fellow front-rower.<br><br>“Ive spoken to Ben Cross, he was good enough to give me a call yesterday.<br><br>“He tore his hamstring in the preliminary final and went on to play in a grand final seven days later. <br><br>“He just gave me a few tips on what he did [so] I’ve been trying stick to those.” <br><br>Cayless spoke of his side’s unbelievable mid-season turnaround, which has taken Parramatta all the way to the first week of November.<br><br>“It’s all a bit surreal at the moment… every time it gets mentioned on the TV that we’re playing in the grand final next Sunday it’s very surreal.<br><br>“We’ve really played with a lot of confidence and really enjoyed our footy and backed the style of play that we’ve been doing… so far it’s been pretty good.”<br><br>The Eels will be praying their inspirational captain can lead them in the biggest game of the year, their premiership aspirations may just depend on it.
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