Controversial sprinter Dwain Chambers could extend his trial with Super League basement club Castleford, it emerged on Wednesday.
The Tigers insist that, despite speculation to the contrary, the 30-year-old athlete will complete his four-week unpaid trial at the club, but they accept he is unlikely to play a match in that time.
Coach Terry Matterson believes it would be dangerous to give Chambers his first taste of rugby league in a Super League match and the club have no reserve fixture this month, with the postponed game against St Helens' second string re-arranged for August.
Now in his third week of training, Chambers underwent his first major contact session with the Super League squad and impressed the head coach.
"He's worked hard," said Matterson. "We haven't had any real hard sessions for the last two weeks because of the programme but we stepped training up a bit this week.
"It was bit of a reality check for him - he had a really tough session - but I've got to say he's tough mentally because other people I reckon wouldn't have finished that session."
Chambers has never played either code of rugby, although he twice tried his hand at American Football during his two-year drugs ban, and confessed at his unveiling by Castleford that he did not know the rules.
But the world indoor 60metre silver medalist remains committed to the trial, according to his Leeds-based solicitor Nick Collins.
"He's still enjoying it," said Collins. "At the moment I see the situation as still fluid. There is a definite possibility of extending the trial period."
Castleford football manager Michael Robinson said: "Dwain has been training with the senior team this week and this afternoon, when the rest of the team have a day off, he will be attending a local school as part of his commitment to the community.
"When his trial period expires at the end of next week, the coaching staff and Dwain will make a decision over his future."
Chambers has still to announce whether he intends to pursue a bid to overturn a ban by the British Olympic Association preventing his participation in the Beijing Games.
The athlete is ineligible for Castleford's next match, the fourth round Carnegie Challenge Cup tie at Harlequins on Saturday, because he was registered after the signing deadline.
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