Kieran Foran will likely be fit for round one of the 2017 NRL Season but coach Steven Kearney admitted there's been no headway made in his contract saga.
Foran sensationally left former club the Parramatta Eels due to personal reasons midway through the 2016 season after spending some time on the side-line with a serious shoulder injury.
Making his way to the Warriors for the 2017 season, the 26-year-old still needs his new contract ratified by the NRL to be allowed to play, something Kearney said they still have no indication of.
"No [he's not available], he needs to be registered so no," Kearney said.
"I think I think there was some noise about over the weekend when they had all the honchos in town but Jim [Doyle] is looking after that."
However, it looks like Foran's contract may be the only thing holding them back, with Kearney suggesting he'll be well and truly ready for their round one clash against the Knights at Mt Smart Stadium.
"I'd say he's probably a week and a half [away from physical contact]," he says.
"He's been progressing over the last two weeks after he saw the specialist who gave him the tick to start that sort of work. Another week of that, I'm picking [he's ready] before round one.
"He will be an asset. He is an asset."
Kearney suggested Foran was getting a little carried away at training. but said it was good for the club.
"Kieran's probably someone you have to watch because he's a bit like Roger [Tuivasa-Sheck] in a sense that he trains the way he plays."
"With Kieran, he'd tell you he was ready but he's one of those guys you have to keep an eye on."
The Warriors will play the first of two preseason trial matches against the Melbourne Storm on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Newshub.