New Zealand co-captain Adam Blair may yet play in Sunday's Test series opener against England despite a debilitating calf injury, according to coach Stephen Kearney.
Latest news from New Zealand's tour of the UK
Brisbane's Blair had been written off for the entire series in some quarters after hobbling out of Headingley on crutches following the Kiwis' win over Leeds on Friday.
But as England fullback Sam Tomkins (knee) trained strongly at Burton-on-Trent, Kearney told NRL.com: "We're giving Adam as long as possible - he's a chance."
Kearney added that centre Jordan Kahu had completely overcome his groin injury. "Kahu is fine."
Crack England centre Kallum Watkins said it was Brisbane's Kahu - due for his Test debut - he expected to oppose at Hull's KC Stadium.
"He's a young fella, isn't he?' said Watkins.
"Plays at Brisbane, played in many positions. When I watched through the year, he played at fullback, wing, so he's very versatile but doing a good job.
"You're going to be a good player if you're in the best team in the world. I know they've got a few players out but they've still got a lot of talent."
England coach Steve McNsmara, meanwhile, has suggested his knowledge of Kiwis fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck as a member of the Roosters' coaching staff could work to England's advantage.
"He's a pretty good player and he's a great bloke as well - he's really well balanced," said McNamara.
"But as with everybody, there's things he's slightly better at and there's things he's not so good at. But it's not just about Roger."
McNamara predicted the Tests would involve more daring attacking play than the average NRL game.
"I think there's more flair - certainly more flair, more open," said McNamara, during a media "all-in" at St George's Park.
"Some of that is when you are at a club, defensively you understand each other inside and out.
"In an international team, the biggest challenge is making sure you defend strongly together. Sometimes there's little chinks, sometimes it opens up opportunities and class players can take advantage of that.
"As an English team, we've got a great willingness to play."
McNamara said he was no more confident of Sam Burgess returning to the 13-man game than he was before they sat together at Saturday's Test against France.
"I've not changed my opinion," he said.
"The only reason I said I was confident of him coming back is all his family's in Australia, he's getting married to a girl who's Australian, he's got business interests in Australia.
"For me, it's just common sense that at some point he'll come back, but when that is, he'll determine that."
New Zealand are due back from France on Wednesday.
