Isaah Yeo has returned for Penrith after a serious pectoral injury, keeping alive his hopes of captaining Australia at the Rugby League World Cup in October.
The Panthers co-captain was injured against the Warriors in Round 23 and initially faced an uncertain season.
Yeo and Penrith's medical staff adopted an unconventional plan after consulting surgeon Dr Al Young, who allowed four weeks to assess the injury before surgery.
"Talking to the surgeon to get it all booked, he said we have a four-week window to see how it settles down," Yeo said to NRL.com.
"I thought it would be mad not to. It already feels like it was up in flames, so why would you not give yourself a chance?"
He completed the required fitness testing before returning against the Tigers in Round 27, four weeks after the injury.
Although Yeo had doubted whether his body would cope, the comeback strengthened his chances of joining Penrith's finals campaign and postponing surgery until after the World Cup.
"I was a bit nervous before the Tigers game because I didn't want to go out and let anyone down," Yeo said.
"That's why I played that game, because I didn't want to do that in a semi and cruel us with a sub."