Australian skipper Ricky Ponting's abdominal injury is threatening to keep him from playing in the remainder of the one-day series in South Africa against the Proteas.
Team physiotherapist Errol Alcott said that just when it seems Ponting is recovering from the problem, he suffers another setback.
"He (Ponting) is very optimistic each day, and then I have a session with him and it brings him back to reality again," Alcott said.
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Ponting sustained the ailment during net practice preceding the opening one-day international against South Africa at Centurion, which the Proteas won by six wickets.
Alcott admits that he is unable to pinpoint when the Tasmanian may return to the side, but with the approaching Test series, there is no doubt Ponting will not be rushed back into the ODI side.
"We've just got to keep assessing him," Alcott said.
"He's very powerful, he's got short levers and he's like a little pocket dynamo. Everything he does he's 100 percent, even his position and also his batting."
"(The stomach) is the centre of movement for all of us, so it's got to be in good order."
Meanwhile, Andrew Symonds is also in doubt for the second one-dayer on Friday in Durban due to a hip injury.
Symonds has been in good form this year since a period where many were questioning his worth in the Australian team, particularly in the Test arena.
"You've got to be careful because if you let them out there and they re-injure it then you are looking at two or three weeks longer, and I don't want to do that with a Test series (approaching)," Alcott said in relation to Symonds.
Stuart Clark, replacement paceman for Glenn McGrath who is spending time with his ill wife in Australia, is expected to be fit for Friday's match after a slight rib injury.
