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Bailey went under the knife on Tuesday after sustaining a broken thumb in last Saturday night's shock loss to the Sharks but the ex-Test front rower was still named for the Robina showdown.
Bailey will be reassessed later this week but the club's medical staff would be guided by the specialist's advice.
He has been pencilled into the starting front row, but livewire full-back Preston Campbell has been rubbed out after succumbing to a hamstring complaint.
Other injury concerns - back rower Anthony Laffranchi (shoulder) and pivot Mat Rogers (hip) - were named in the starting side on Tuesday.
Laffranchi slots straight into the second row to ensure he lines up against his former club after missing the Sharks boilover.
While Laffranchi was pleased to be back, he is hopeful Bailey will be given the thumbs up to run out on Friday night.
"He's our inspirational leader, a cornerstone of our pack," Laffranchi said.
"Fingers crossed, or thumbs crossed, he will play."
Laffranchi looked forward to taking on the team he helped secure the 2005 premiership.
But the significance of the clash far outweighed any sentiment for Laffranchi.
Win and they lock up a top four spot, which means a home final in the first week of the play-offs.
Lose, and they could drop to sixth.
Laffranchi says bowing out of the 2009 finals in the second week had steeled the side ahead of their crunch encounter.
"We had some pretty good form coming into the finals last year and bowed out in straight sets," he said.
"We got that taste of defeat, which is hard to swallow at that time of year.
"But it was a good learning curve."
Bailey will be reassessed later this week but the club's medical staff would be guided by the specialist's advice.
He has been pencilled into the starting front row, but livewire full-back Preston Campbell has been rubbed out after succumbing to a hamstring complaint.
Other injury concerns - back rower Anthony Laffranchi (shoulder) and pivot Mat Rogers (hip) - were named in the starting side on Tuesday.
Laffranchi slots straight into the second row to ensure he lines up against his former club after missing the Sharks boilover.
While Laffranchi was pleased to be back, he is hopeful Bailey will be given the thumbs up to run out on Friday night.
"He's our inspirational leader, a cornerstone of our pack," Laffranchi said.
"Fingers crossed, or thumbs crossed, he will play."
Laffranchi looked forward to taking on the team he helped secure the 2005 premiership.
But the significance of the clash far outweighed any sentiment for Laffranchi.
Win and they lock up a top four spot, which means a home final in the first week of the play-offs.
Lose, and they could drop to sixth.
Laffranchi says bowing out of the 2009 finals in the second week had steeled the side ahead of their crunch encounter.
"We had some pretty good form coming into the finals last year and bowed out in straight sets," he said.
"We got that taste of defeat, which is hard to swallow at that time of year.
"But it was a good learning curve."
