Sia Soliola's injury return looks set to be delayed with the Canberra Raiders forward to put family first and miss this week's trip to New Zealand if it puts witnessing the birth of his child in danger.
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Soliola has been given a medical clearance to play the Warriors in New Plymouth on Saturday after he broke his arm in Canberra's 22-8 win over Canterbury six weeks ago.
His wife, Gemmah, is due to give birth on Wednesday, a brother or sister for four-year-old Israel, and Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has given Soliola his blessing to make it his priority.
"Obviously, I'm pretty keen to get out there and get back with the boys, but it's a tough thing to leave the missus just in case," Soliola said.
"If it [the game] was local it would have been ideal, but not only is it not in Auckland, it's in New Plymouth. That makes it a bit complicated.
"It'd be difficult to leave here because they don't think it's going [to arrive] any time soon."
Prop Lima is also nearing a return from a broken hand and the pair's impact off the bench was a huge factor for Canberra's strong early season form.
"My rehab partner [Lima] has kept the days interesting, he's made the time fly because he's a good character and doesn't mind a bit of banter," Soliola said.
Soliola has endured rotten luck with injury, with a fractured cheek bone ending his season six weeks early last year.
"Last year's was tougher to take, especially with it being so late in the season and we still had a chance to make the top eight," Soliola said.
"This time around it's not as bad, we still have a lot of games left and the chance to make finals."
The 29-year-old, who recently re-signed with the Raiders for two years, is the team's spiritual leader and the absence of his direction was telling in the close losses to St George Illawarra and Penrith.
"It's really tough those [close] ones because we experienced that all last year," Soliola said. "The courage the guys are showing to fight back has been amazing but we need the results this year, it's plain and simple.
"Sometimes we play high risk when we probably shouldn't, but everything's easy in hindsight. If it came off everyone would be cheering, when it doesn't you get shot in the foot sometimes. Once it turns, these boys are going to be awesome."
While young forwards Luke Bateman, Joe Tapine and Clay Priest have performed strongly in their place, the Raiders have sorely missed the experience provided by Soliola and Lima.
Their bench is very young without them and Soliola fills a leadership role similar to Brisbane Bronco Sam Thaiday when he comes on.
"I think composure is probably the first thing that comes to mind," Soliola said. "For example in the [Dragons] game there was a lot of things the boys may have got frustrated with.
"But if you have an experienced head out there [it helps to] keep everyone level headed and understand you don't have to push the pass or make the big shot, just keep doing your job and generally the momentum swings. It's huge to have a couple of older figures there that can keep everyone in check."
The Raiders also have their fingers crossed lock Shaun Fensom will play the Warriors after he had scans on a rotator cuff injury he picked up against the Dragons.
NRL - ROUND 11
Saturday: New Zealand Warriors v Canberra Raiders at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, 5.30p.
TV: Live on Fox Sports 1.
