The Cronulla Sharks are set for a major finals boost, with Braydon Trindall to be cleared for their elimination final on Saturday evening at Allianz Stadium.
The star half has been missing for the last couple of weeks, with the wheels falling off for the Sharks in his absence.
Cronulla, at one stage seemingly a lock to finish in the top four, bounced their way out of contention for a second bite at the cherry in September, instead finishing fifth where they will now host the North Queensland Cowboys this weekend in a do-or-die contest.
Trindall first struggled, but played through injury during a horror loss to wooden spooners the St George Illawarra Dragons, before dislocating his shoulder against the Canberra Raiders in a loss the following week.
The Sharks then squeaked past the Gold Coast Titans, before losing their last two games of the regular season without Trindall against the Parramatta Eels and Melbourne Storm.
The loss to the Storm saw a last play of the game try for the Victorian outfit, as well as Fitzgibbon take an opportunity to rest other players including Trindall's halves partner Nicho Hynes ahead of the finals.
The Sharks were in fine form before their losing streak, with Trindall leading the way for much of it, and a News Corp report now says he will be named on Tuesday afternoon.
The five-eighth has played 21 games this year, picking up a staggering 30 try assists, scoring 9 of his own, and adding 23 forced drop outs in addition to running the ball strongly on occasion.
Trindall more or less playing the halfback role for the Sharks also unlocked Nicho Hynes to be the best version of himself during the run home.
Cronulla's attitude, particularly in defence, has been alarming in recent weeks though, and the club may need more than Trindall's return to be a competitive force in the finals.
The Sharks will be without Michael Gabrael, forcing another reshuffle, after he was sin binned and subsequently suspended for two matches over a high shot on the weekend.
North Queensland's biggest question lingers around Reuben Cotter, with the middle forward facing suspension, but challenging at the judiciary on Tuesday evening.
