FORT William forward Bryan Simpson has been told the heavy cast will be removed from his hand and replaced with a light cast 10 days before the Camanachd Cup final against Kingussie in Inverness on September 18.
Simpson, 22, is determined this means he will be back for the final, but there is gloomier news about team-mate and fellow forward Drew Ferguson.
Manager Peter MacIntyre said: “Drew still has a heavy cast on his ankle and the odds are now swinging against him. He'd certainly be a loss.
"Once Bryan gets the light cast, that'll be greatly encouraging for his final prospects, but we'll wait and see.”
Duncan Rodger, who has been plagued with knee trouble, showed he's ready for the final by firing a goal in Fort's vital 4-3 Premier Division win at Inveraray.
MacIntyre said: “Duncan is working his way back to fitness and put in a superb shift on Saturday, starting at wing centre, moving to the forward line and scoring a great goal, then finishing in defence.”
Fort bounced back from defeat by Kyles Athletic to pull off an impressive win at Winterton Park. Gary Innes put them ahead with a penalty, but Garry MacPherson and Neil Andrews put Inverarary ahead before Rodger dribbled past three men to flick home the goal which made it 2-2 at half-time.
Innes shot Fort ahead five minutes in to the second half and Gordon MacKinnon made it 4-2 15 minutes from time, only for Grant Griffin to pull one back.
Fort are now level at the top of the table with Newtonmore, each with 25 points with three games remaining.
Kingussie's 7-0 drubbing of Glasgow Mid Argyll officially relegated the visitors, which had been a formality for weeks, but it also hoisted Kings to 18 points with six games still to play.
For the second successive weekend, Ronald Ross grabbed four goals, including a first-half hat-trick. Teenager Ryan Borthwick hit two goals in three minutes early in the second half to complete his hat-trick.
Kyles continued their good form with a 3-0 win at Lovat. Rupert Williamson made the breakthrough early in the second half and Duncan Kerr and Robbie Macleod netted in the final seven minutes.
Oban Camanachd's relegation duel at Bute was postponed after four of their players were involved in a car crash near Tarbert. Oban president Nigel Evans said: “They were unhurt, but shaken. We'd arrived at the ferry, but we contacted the association to say we felt a postponement was needed.”
Torrential rain ended Kinlochshiel's home North First Division game with Beauly with 15 minutes left and Shiel 3-1 up. The game will be replayed.
Sean Nicolson, Ben Delaney, Alan Knox and Conor Sweeney gave leaders Lochaber a 4-1 win at Strathglass.
Challengers Kilmallie brushed aside Skye 7-1 at Caol with a hat-trick for John Stewart and a Peter MacIntyre double.
Former international Iain Mackenzie hit two goals for Lochcarron in their 5-2 win at Inverness.