Benji Marshall's chances of playing in next month's Centenary Test against Australia improved Thursday with Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens claiming the injured pivot's recovery was ahead of schedule.

While determined not to rush the injury-prone playmaker back too early, Sheens admitted Marshall was likely to return from a knee injury ahead of the initial round 11 estimate.

The 23-year-old took part in some of the Tigers training session in Sydney on Thursday, and while he is rated no chance of playing against Canberra this weekend, his return does appear imminent.

Marshall damaged the posterior cruciate ligament just five minutes into his side's 24-16 season opening win over St George Illawarra and was originally slated to return in the May 25 clash against Gold Coast at Leichhardt Oval.

"We are hoping he'll be back earlier," Sheens said.

"He's working well but there's no way we're going to take a risk with it, we want him healthy.

"But he's doing a lot of good things, he's already running around and there's no limp and there's no swelling ... I'd like to think it would be a bit earlier but I wouldn't put a time on it."

Form Marshall to play the May 9 trans-Tasman Test at the SCG, he would have to appear for the Tigers in their round eight clash against Brisbane on May 3.

Incoming New Zealand Test coach Stephen Kearney said it would be unfair to throw Marshall straight into Test football without an NRL match under his belt.

Injuries have limited Marshall to just three appearances in the black and white of the Kiwis since making his Test debut in 2005.

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