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Sydney - Reds centre Anthony Faingaa has endorsed Ewen McKenzie's hardline approach on injured players - even if it means missing out on the Super Rugby semi-final at Suncorp Stadium on July 2.
Faingaa, suffering a hamstring injury, is one of those racing the clock to be fit for the biggest rugby match in Queensland for a decade, with the Reds now just one game away from hosting the Super Rugby grand final.
There's a surge of emotion at Ballymore and a huge buzz running through the Reds squad, although there is bound to be some disappointed faces early next week with McKenzie not willing to wait until the last minute to give his injured stars time to recover.
He has given players a Monday deadline to be ready. If they can't train at full tilt by then, they won't be considered for team selection against an opponent which will be decided after the first round of finals weekend.
Faingaa was talking things up on Tuesday but may yet be a casualty of the tough approach. Fellow centre Mike Harris (knee) and fullback Ben Lucas (knee) are racing the clock as well, with McKenzie more than prepared to back the replacements that have performed over the past few weeks.
Even so, he said the playing group would abide by McKenzie's ruling and it has been his tough but fair approach all season that has helped get the Reds to where they are today.
"I think that's been Ewen from day one. That's why we've done so well. He'll have to make the tough decisions. He trusts the players that he has," Faingaa said.
"We've played 37 players this year. He's got a belief in the squad that we have. That's a really positive thing.
"Ewen's not selecting anyone if they don't train on Monday. It's a tough stance by him but it's the right decision."
The Reds would dearly love to have the straight running and up-and-under defence of Faingaa at their disposal, but McKenzie's focus on strategy next week doesn't appear to leave much wriggle room if players are struggling to meet rehab deadlines.
Such is the team's belief in their coach's approach that they have backed the decision even if it rules them out of contention for the game, which is destined to be a sell-out when tickets go on sale on Friday.
Faingaa was doing all he could to convince the coaching and medical staff he would be fit and firing, saying he could play this week should there be a game and he had already returned to short sprints at full pace.
But he acknowledges the unpredictable nature of hamstring injuries and was already wondering out loud if it could withstand 80 minutes if rugby at finals intensity.
"I ran 100 percent on Tuesday for a small period of time. We were talking about the fatigue after about 60-70 minutes and whether I can still hold it up. It is a hamstring so you just don't know," Faingaa admitted.
"I just want to make the team. Link (McKenzie) knows I'll do whatever it takes. I want to be at my best by Saturday next week.
"I was declaring myself fit last week. It's just a waiting game. The medical staff and Ewen have the last decision."
There's some good news in the forwards, with flanker Beau Robinson back in training on Wednesday and on track to return next Saturday.
Teenager Liam Gill could be one of the most unlucky omissions of the season after starring in the number seven against the Chiefs on the weekend and will most likely revert to a role on the bench.
"Beau's back training. Beau will definitely be right for Monday. It's up to Ewen. Liam Gill played fantastic on the weekend. He got our most steals all year. It's going to be some competition for the number seven jersey," Faingaa said.
Reds captain James Horwill said his side wasn't daunted at the prospect of a sudden-death final and continued to keep their eyes on the top prize, as they had from day one of the Super Rugby season.
"Our aim at the start of the year was to finish number one. It's a whole different ballgame come finals. Its very cuthroat, the finals system. It's a bit different to the other codes," Horwill said.
"We want to put our best foot forward and get the result. We're in the position that we know if we win the semi-final, then we get a home grand final."
Faingaa, suffering a hamstring injury, is one of those racing the clock to be fit for the biggest rugby match in Queensland for a decade, with the Reds now just one game away from hosting the Super Rugby grand final.
There's a surge of emotion at Ballymore and a huge buzz running through the Reds squad, although there is bound to be some disappointed faces early next week with McKenzie not willing to wait until the last minute to give his injured stars time to recover.
He has given players a Monday deadline to be ready. If they can't train at full tilt by then, they won't be considered for team selection against an opponent which will be decided after the first round of finals weekend.
Faingaa was talking things up on Tuesday but may yet be a casualty of the tough approach. Fellow centre Mike Harris (knee) and fullback Ben Lucas (knee) are racing the clock as well, with McKenzie more than prepared to back the replacements that have performed over the past few weeks.
Even so, he said the playing group would abide by McKenzie's ruling and it has been his tough but fair approach all season that has helped get the Reds to where they are today.
"I think that's been Ewen from day one. That's why we've done so well. He'll have to make the tough decisions. He trusts the players that he has," Faingaa said.
"We've played 37 players this year. He's got a belief in the squad that we have. That's a really positive thing.
"Ewen's not selecting anyone if they don't train on Monday. It's a tough stance by him but it's the right decision."
The Reds would dearly love to have the straight running and up-and-under defence of Faingaa at their disposal, but McKenzie's focus on strategy next week doesn't appear to leave much wriggle room if players are struggling to meet rehab deadlines.
Such is the team's belief in their coach's approach that they have backed the decision even if it rules them out of contention for the game, which is destined to be a sell-out when tickets go on sale on Friday.
Faingaa was doing all he could to convince the coaching and medical staff he would be fit and firing, saying he could play this week should there be a game and he had already returned to short sprints at full pace.
But he acknowledges the unpredictable nature of hamstring injuries and was already wondering out loud if it could withstand 80 minutes if rugby at finals intensity.
"I ran 100 percent on Tuesday for a small period of time. We were talking about the fatigue after about 60-70 minutes and whether I can still hold it up. It is a hamstring so you just don't know," Faingaa admitted.
"I just want to make the team. Link (McKenzie) knows I'll do whatever it takes. I want to be at my best by Saturday next week.
"I was declaring myself fit last week. It's just a waiting game. The medical staff and Ewen have the last decision."
There's some good news in the forwards, with flanker Beau Robinson back in training on Wednesday and on track to return next Saturday.
Teenager Liam Gill could be one of the most unlucky omissions of the season after starring in the number seven against the Chiefs on the weekend and will most likely revert to a role on the bench.
"Beau's back training. Beau will definitely be right for Monday. It's up to Ewen. Liam Gill played fantastic on the weekend. He got our most steals all year. It's going to be some competition for the number seven jersey," Faingaa said.
Reds captain James Horwill said his side wasn't daunted at the prospect of a sudden-death final and continued to keep their eyes on the top prize, as they had from day one of the Super Rugby season.
"Our aim at the start of the year was to finish number one. It's a whole different ballgame come finals. Its very cuthroat, the finals system. It's a bit different to the other codes," Horwill said.
"We want to put our best foot forward and get the result. We're in the position that we know if we win the semi-final, then we get a home grand final."
