Wests Tigers are facing a less-than-ideal lead-up to their must-win clash with the Raiders at home on Sunday, with skipper Aaron Woods on a drip as he battles a virus.
Reports suggest a number of players at the club have been struck down with the virus that was picked up by forward Kyle Lovett in New Zealand last weekend.
Now, Woods has been ordered to stay home by the club, and faces a race against the clock to be fit for the Tigers' biggest game of the season.
“We’ve had it going through the group for a little bit now,” coach Jason Taylor told Fairfax.
“We’ve had a couple struggling with it prior to the Penrith game and a couple prior to last week’s game (against the Warriors). Now we have a couple more again. But the beauty of this a little bit is it’s happened early in the week.”
Woods was the best of the Tigers against the Warriors, with his performance inspiring his side to a 36-24 victory at Mount Smart Stadium.
Hooker Dene Halatau has also been struck down with the illness, however both he and Woods are expected to play against the Raiders on Sunday.