Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco insists Luke Keary is in no doubt to start the NRL season, with his latest jaw injury not arousing any fresh concussion concerns.
Keary will sit out a second straight pre-season trial on Friday night against Manly, after taking a blow to the jaw in training last week.
The Roosters are adamant the decision to hold Keary back is only a precaution and there are no genuine fears around his availability to face the Dolphins on March 5.
"He's fine. He'll be ready to go round one," Tedesco said on Wednesday.
"There is no point risking him for a trial. He's had a great pre-season, him and (halfback) Sammy Walker have looked so sharp.
"Sammy Walker was great last week. They'll both be fine for round one."
Keary's jaw injury is the second facial injury to beset the Roosters this pre-season, with Joey Manu also fighting to be fit to play in round one after suffering a fracture.
But in the case of Keary, external concerns reached beyond his jaw.
The 31-year-old suffered five head knocks between 2018 and 2019 alone before missing another month of football following a head knock last year.
Tedesco admitted he first feared another potential concussion for Keary when the playmaker suffered the latest hit, but is certain there is no element of a head injury.
"There was a bit of a concern just because of the history," Tedesco said.
"But once you talk to him, he's alright. You're going to have that happen in a contact sport.
"Joey had a similar one with his cheekbone. You're going to have these knocks.
"But as long as it wasn't serious and he doesn't have the bad headaches or repercussions from that he will be fine."
Tedesco's comments came after he teamed with women's ace Grace Kim, cricketer Dan Christian and ultra-marathon sensation Nedd Brockman to win golf's TPS Sydney pro-am at Bonnie Doon.
He said Keary had spent most of the day messaging him about his golf, highlighting again that the Ireland World Cup representative was in good spirits.
"He's been fine. He's been messaging me all day asking me how I went off the first," Tedesco quipped.
"He's a keen golfer and a very good golfer. He is probably out somewhere playing while he is resting up."
