Wests Tigers will assess James Roberts once he's free from quarantine in 12 days before deciding whether to rush him straight back into the NRL side.
The former NSW Origin centre is isolating in a Queensland hotel after being deemed a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case at a supermarket in Sydney.
Under the current conditions of his quarantine, he is allowed just one hour a day in the hotel gym, which may not be adequate to maintain his NRL-standard fitness.
"We'll have to assess that (returning to the team)," said Tigers coach Michael Maguire ahead of Saturday's clash with Manly.
"You've got to understand the player.
"When you're going from zero to 100, you've got to make sure the body is ready to go.
"I know Jimmy is doing a lot of training in and around his room. We'll have to assess that when he lands on the ground with us.
"It's unfortunate what we have to get through, but getting Jimmy back into the team would be great."
Roberts arrived in Queensland on Wednesday and is currently quarantining along with the NRL families in a Brisbane hotel.
Maguire said the team has rallied around Roberts, who comes off contract with the club at the end of the season and would be desperate to return to the field.
"I just spoke to him before and he's in good spirits," Maguire said.
"Being isolated in a room is a little bit different.
"Obviously the parameters of what they can and can't do change within days -- we've experienced that ourselves in isolation. He'll be fine.
"He's got good people around him and he'll get on Zoom calls and talking to him along with all the wives and kids who are locked down. We're all going through it in a different fashion.
"My boys look after each other and that's what you've got to do through these periods of time."
Australian Associated Press
