New Warriors signing Kieran Foran is expected to train alongside his new teammates for the first time tomorrow as he continues to wait for his playing return to be approved by the NRL.
Foran is recovering from shoulder surgery and until now has been restricted to training among the Warriors rehab group of players returning from injury.
New coach Stephen Kearney has been impressed with the positive changes Foran has made over the past three months and expects he will be ready to play from round one of next season, pending his clearance from the game's governing body.
"I met Kieran three months ago and to see him now, he's a totally different looking Kieran, to me," said Kearney.
"At the moment he's in a good place and got a smile on his face. We have just got to keep working on that."
Foran was a keen observer from the sidelines at the club's Mt Smart Stadium base on day two of the Warriors preseason training.
The 26-year-old former Kiwis international will begin light duties tomorrow and look to improve his fitness in the lead-up to Christmas with plans for him to start full training in the new year.
Fairfax Media reported on Sunday that the NRL had issued Foran with a set of questions pertaining to his mental health, his betting habits and association with Sydney gambling identity Eddie Hayson.
Kearney was reluctant to discuss how talks were progressing but said Foran was comfortable despite the uncertainty surrounding his situation.
"That's something I can't answer here today," said Kearney.
"He's working through that rehab process and I leave all of that other stuff to (managing director) Jim (Doyle).
"There's a fair few boxes to tick so once he's gone through that process I hope we'll see him out on the park.
"You might see him out here tomorrow kicking balls. We'll try and get him out here before Christmas.
"He won't be doing full training, just getting into the running side of things, and then after Christmas he'll be a bit further down the track.
"He wants to play tomorrow but he understands that he's got a fair few hoops to jump through and boxes to tick, before that is the case and he's working through a process to get his body right.
"He'll be ready for the start of the season."