Canberra Raiders star Blake Austin appears no chance to line up for City Origin next week, with coach Ricky Stuart adamant three games in less than two weeks "isn't the best case scenario" for his five-eighth.
Austin was quiet in his return from two weeks out with a small hamstring tear in Saturday's 19-18 loss to Penrith, and left the dressing sheds with a guard on his chest after copping a knock.
After the City-Country game in Tamworth next Sunday, the Raiders face a four-day turnaround against St George Illawarra in Sydney.
Stuart described the scheduling as "unfair" this week and even asked the NRL about the possibility of increased interchanges and a bigger bench for the Dragons game.
Austin's game relies on his explosiveness and he looks resigned to missing City-Country after he scored a hat-trick in his City debut last year.
Given he has played just four games due to knee and hamstring injuries, Austin's already slim NSW Origin hopes look dashed.
"I don't think Blake's going to be all right anyhow because he's hurt his chest," Stuart said. "Three games in that amount of time is not best case scenario for his hamstring and at this stage, the club has got to come first.
"That will be something I'll confront if and when the issue occurs [if Austin is chosen on Monday] but the club will be coming first, it won't be rep football. The medical people will decide the best course of action for Blake."
Clinging to a spot in the top eight, the Raiders won't risk the reigning Dally M five-eighth of the year.
Asked about his City chances, Austin said: "It won't be my call, it will be a joint decision between Sticky [Stuart] and Konrad [Schulz, Raiders physio], and I have to get picked first. It's a great concept and we'll have to wait and see there."
Austin admitted he was climbing the walls watching his teammates during his injury struggles and is confident he'll build on his display against the Panthers.
"It's about getting back on the field and building into it, I'm happy to play 80 minutes," he said. "I got sick of watching the boys play the last few weeks, it's disappointing we've lost.
"It's the first time I"ve done it [hamstring] so it's a little bit scary, I obviously base my game on running and power and you need your hammy for that."
