Steve Rhodes has praised the Worcestershire medical team and Daryl Mitchell himself in pulling out all the stops in trying to ensure the Rapids skipper is fit for Friday's NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final with Hampshire at New Road (5.30pm start).
Mitchell initially looked a major doubt to feature in the county's first ever home quarter-final in the competition after suffering a hamstring injury while batting against Surrey at the Kia Oval a week ago in the Royal London One-Day Cup.
But the 31-year-old has made good progress and worked tirelessly to try and be ready for Friday with the expert knowledge of first team physio Ben Davies, fitness and conditioning coach Ross Dewar and the other backroom staff to call upon.
Rhodes said: "Will Daryl Mitchell be fit? We are very much hoping so. It is too early to tell but he is on course and has worked extremely hard with the medical team.
"I must say that the medical team have been outstanding in the way they've rehabed him and Daryl, you know what he is like, he leaves no stone unturned.
"He has been badgering away every single moment to see what he can be doing to make sure he is right.
"There is every optimism to think he will be playing."
Mitchell had not missed a Worcestershire match through injury for four years until sustaining the injury at The Oval.
He is currently the Rapids leading scorer in the T20 Blast this summer after the North Group stages for the second year running.
