A knee injury suffered in Sunday night's NRL grand final loss is unlikely to keep Dally M medallist Todd Carney out of Australia's squad for rugby league's Four Nations tournament.
Carney will be the Kangaroos' back-up half after receiving his first call-up to a national squad, pipping Gold Coast captain Scott Prince.
The Sydney Roosters five-eighth will need to prove his fitness at next week's medical but early indications are he has a ligament problem which would prevent him running for no more than two weeks.
Captain Darren Lockyer, incumbent halfback Cooper Cronk and Newcastle utility Kurt Gidley are Australia's other halves possibilities in the 24-man squad.
An ankle injury has ruled out the regular Test No.7 Johnathan Thurston.
Australia play Papua New Guinea on October 24 in Sydney then England in Melbourne on October 31 and New Zealand in Auckland on November 6.
