Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson could be denied the chance to play in the club's first finals game in six years as he struggles with a lower leg injury.
The 32-year-old is under an injury cloud ahead of Saturday's qualifying final away to Penrith, according to a report in the New Zealand Herald.
With first-choice five-eighth Luke Metcalf already sidelined with a hamstring issue, concerns over Johnson's fitness will be an unwelcome distraction for coach Andrew Webster.
Johnson was one of a number of star Warriors rested for the final-round loss to the Dolphins with the club already having sewn up a top-four spot.
The mercurial playmaker has been in career-best form this year and is a strong contender to take out the Dally M Medal.
Johnson is said to have undergone limited training this week and Webster batted away questions on Wednesday around his halfback's fitness when reporters in Auckland noticed him not partaking in a warm-up session.
"That's happened several times this year," Webster told reporters on Wednesday.
"We do extended warm-ups so Shaun warmed up on field No.1 today (Wednesday).
"We go straight into collisions and contact and we just manage that and time it better.
"I knew I was going to get asked that. I don't care if I get asked that because it's literally happened so many times."
The Warriors are expected to land in Sydney late Thursday after taking a charter flight from Auckland.
Rookie Ronald Volkman looms as the most likely option to partner Te Maire Martin in the halves if Johnson is ruled out.