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Boyd Cordner believes the Sydney Roosters could feel the benefits of an injury-ravaged season come finals with so few players having played 18 games straight.
They haven't put anything close to their best team on the park for two months, but the Sydney Roosters' injury crisis could be their biggest blessing in the most gruelling of NRL seasons.
As the end of 18 straight weeks of regular-season football nears, Luke Keary will headline the list of Roosters returnees in the September run to the finals.
Keary (rib) will make his comeback alongside Sonny Bill Williams in Saturday night's grand final rematch against Canberra.
Angus Crichton (knee) and Mitchell Aubusson (wrist) are also set to come back in coming weeks, after Boyd Cordner (concussion) and Daniel Tupou (ankle) returned from injury last round.
Between their squad, the Roosters have missed a whopping 81 games through injury and load management this year.
But of the injured pack, only Victor Radley, Sam Verrills and Billy Smith are unable to return this year.
Joey Manu and Jake Friend are the only two to have played every game in 2020, while all but Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Lindsay Collins have missed at least two.
And while that's presented its challenges, captain Cordner can see an upside in their shot at a three-peat.
"Everyone is feeling fresh coming back at the right time of the year," Cordner said.
"There is a lot of experience on the sidelines about to come back.
"We just need to stay fit, the boys that are playing at the moment. And once we get a few troops back (it'll be an advantage)."
For all their injuries, the Roosters have still got results through at times patchy form.
Their 11 wins in 14 games since the shutdown is the equal-second most in the game behind Penrith.
Their for-and-against of +231 in that time is also the best, while a win on Saturday will go a long way towards a top-four finish and the potential of a crucial week off in the finals.
"We were always two games behind the eight-ball," Cordner said.
"So if you look at our form after COVID it's right up there with where we're sitting.
"We've done really good job with whoever has come in has stepped up.
"It was the same last year with injuries, I don't think we fielded the same 13 going through the year."
TOP-LINE ROOSTERS' GAMES OUT SINCE COVID SHUTDOWN
James Tedesco: 2
Daniel Tupou: 7
Brett Morris: 4
Luke Keary: 2
Kyle Flanagan: 2
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves: 3
Sio Siua Taukeiaho: 1
Sitili Tuponiua: 1
Mitchell Aubusson: 4
Nat Butcher: 2
Lindsay Collins: 1
Poasa Faamausili: 2*
Josh Morris: 3
Boyd Cordner: 6
Angus Crichton: 6
Isaac Liu: 2
* Faamausili played four games on loan at the Warriors.
