Duking it out: Rillie optimistic on import's timeline

David Duke Jr. will be given every possible chance to return from injury before the Perth Wildcats consider a replacement import, coach John Rillie has confirmed.

Duke Jr. suffered a suspected elbow injury during the first quarter of the Wildcats’ loss to Adelaide on Sunday, sparking fears of a long-term absence.

But Rillie is optimistic about the 26-year-old’s chances of returning in the not-too-distant future.

“He’ll be reassessed in about a week,” Rillie said on Tuesday.

“It’s one of those injuries where in the immediate future and how he recovers will determine the severity of the injury, then we try and work him back into it, but at this early stage it’s just like let it settle down and then re-evaluate in about a week’s time.”

Rillie said Duke Jr. has escaped serious structural damage.

“As you saw, as far as the dislocation or that type of stuff, nothing that way, but it’s obviously made his elbow angry,” he said.

“So how that settles over the next week and week to two weeks will really determine what the true outcome of it all is.”

However, the Wildcats coach admitted the club would need to keep all options open, with its Finals ambitions teetering on the brink after an inconsistent season so far.

“You certainly have those conversations around all of that,” Rillie said.

“How David’s come in, what he’s done for our group, I want to make sure we take care of him first and make sure that situation is dealt with in the appropriate manner.”

Perth travels to Brisbane to take on the Bullets on Thursday night.