'He tried to get up and then he went back down': New detail of Josh Papalii injury as legends react to 'huge blow'

Canberra legend Jarrod Croker has revealed the extent of Josh Papalii's injury but stopped short of saying it will keep him out of Sunday's qualifying final against Brisbane.

The Raiders are sweating on the veteran prop's fitness after he went down at training on Tuesday with an ankle issue.

He was named in the team on Tuesday afternoon, but the club statement said Papalii "will be assessed closer to the game".

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Speaking to Nine's Today the following morning, Croker revealed he was watching the training session when Papalii hit the turf.

"Hopefully big Papa is right to go so he can take on (Broncos prop) Payne Haas, which is easier said than done," Croker told Today.

"He was in quite a bit of pain. I was actually there when it happened. He tried to get up and then he went back down, and that doesn't happen very often with big Papa. He's probably the toughest bloke I've played footy with.

"It's been a big couple of days for him but hopefully he can be right for the weekend."

Papalii, 33, has been in hot form this season and earned a stunning State of Origin recall to help Queensland win game three, and the series.

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Maroons coach Billy Slater - who sent Papalii an SOS before Origin III - says it will hurt the Raiders if the front-rower can't play on Sunday.

"Huge, huge loss," he told Nine's The Billy Slater Podcast.

"He has been a big part of their footy team this year. He was going over to (play in) the Super League... then, given his form for the Raiders, he changed their mind on giving him another year, that's how good he's been going this year.

"If he's not there, it's going to be a huge blow.

"I think they can cover him, though, they've got some great forwards.

"But he is such a huge part of this footy team. He creates a calmness, he creates a confidence. Let's hope he has only rolled his ankle."

Fellow Queensland icon Wally Lewis agrees.

"Massive," Lewis said on QLDER.

"He inspires everyone on his team. He probably inspires the opposition as well.

"But what he does for his teammates is quite extraordinary."

QLDER panellist and Nine commentator Peter Psaltis declared, "he will play... unless there's a break or something worse, I'm pretty sure Josh Papalii has a high pain threshold".

Papalii will likely have to get through Saturday's captain's run session and prove his fitness to line up on Sunday.

The winner of the game in Canberra will get the week off and host a preliminary final.