Roosters coach Trent Robinson has confirmed injured star Angus Crichton will make his long-awaited return to the team after last week’s false start.

He also left the door open for halfback Sam Walker to play in next week’s preliminary final if the Roosters can beat old foes Cronulla on Saturday night.

Crichton hasn’t played since round 15 due to a serious foot injury but has been named on the bench after he just fell short of being cleared to face the Panthers last week.

“(He’s) ready to go,” Robinson said on Friday morning.

“I don’t think the standard of the game changes when it comes to Angus. I just think it’s the time out with the injury and time that he’ll get on the field.

“That’s the only thing, but he’s played enough of these sort of quality games to get ready to go back in.

“He wasn’t ready to go last week, that was the truth of it. He still had some issues last week and he hasn’t had them this week, so ready to go.”

Robinson didn’t reveal whether Crichton would start or come off the bench, with Salesi Foketi making the left back row spot his own with some eye-catching performances.

While Crichton is back, there is quiet optimism in the east that Walker will be fit to return next week if the Roosters advance.

The Queensland halfback hasn’t played since he injured his syndesmosis against the Dolphins in round 26, but he could make a stunning return against the same opposition next week if he continues to progress as rapidly as he has.

“It’s good. Another good progression this week. (He needs to) keep going. There’s a little bit less weight on that ankle compared to other guys in our game, so he’s progressing well,” Robinson said.

“He’s a chance (to play next week).

“Most of those guys end up doing running, straight line running, and all of that, whereas he’s back into some free movement and into some training, so that’s a real positive.”

Meanwhile, Robinson refused to give his thoughts on scheduling throughout the finals but said he would address it down the track.

The Roosters have a six-day turnaround from the Panthers game and will have the same gap next week if they eliminate Cronulla from the finals.

The Knights have nine days between games, the Warriors have an eight-day gap, while the Sharks had a week between matches.

The decision to put Penrith’s game on last Sunday has thrown things out of whack, with the schedule not helped by the Warriors having to play in the afternoon due to time differences.

“I’d probably like to hold my opinion on that,” Robinson said.

“I think we’ll do whatever it takes to play finals. That’s as simple as it is.

“I think it’s a real fair question around how it’s scheduled and why we schedule them in this way, but they’re the cards we’re dealt and we’re ready to play on six days, five days, four days, whatever it takes. So yeah, let’s go.”

Originally published as ‘He’s a chance’: Sam Walker closing in on shock return as Roosters confirm Angus Crichton will play against the Sharks