The 25-year-old missed the final two rounds of the season after fracturing his hand in a training mishap.

Austin, who had been instrumental to the Raiders’ charge to finish second on the ladder, was rated almost no chance of returning in 2016.

But the No.6 was spotted passing freely at training ahead of Saturday night’s qualifying semi-final against Cronulla.

Austin is no chance of running out this weekend but could return for week two of the finals should the Raiders lose to the Sharks.

If Canberra win on Saturday, they head directly to a week three preliminary final which would give Austin vaulable extra recovery time.

It has been a good 24 hours for the Raiders after fullback Jack Wighton was cleared of a shoulder charge which would have sidelined him for the entire finals series.