According to head coach Patrice Neveu, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is training in his hotel room to give him the best chance to make an impact for Gabon in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Arsenal striker missed the Panthers' opening match in the ongoing continental showpiece - Monday's 1-0 win over Comoros - after testing positive for COVID only four days before that match.
Neveu, speaking after that win, is optimistic that Aubameyang, who is asymptomatic, will be able to take part in his second group game against Ghana on Friday.
"Their morale is fine, and in the face of this virus, we really have no choice," Neveau told ESPN. "He's exercising in his hotel room, he's able to work out on the exercise bike, he's doing sessions.
"We have four days [until the Ghana match] so we are hopeful, he has no fever and we are expecting him to test negative."
Aubameyang, OGC Nice midfielder Mario Lemina, and coach Anisset Yala all tested positive upon arrival at Yaounde airport last week, with the players arriving in Cameroon after some free time in Dubai.
"He's in a good mood," Neveu continued. "It's his Nations Cup, and he really wanted to be here, he wanted to play in that first match.
"Mario has already tested negative, so we are hoping to bring back a stronger player."
Forward Aaron Boupendza, whose fine strike was enough to defeat the Comoros at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, conceded that Gabon have been affected by Auba's absence.
"Our thoughts are with our captain, who has been affected by COVID," the al-Arabi forward told ESPN. "We played this match for him, and we gave everything.
"It affected us as a team, collectively, and when he joins us again, I think we will be stronger and able to face our next matches."
Axel May and Kevin Mei are also absent for Gabon, with Neveu conceding that - like many teams in the Nations Cup - he will have to adapt his strategy and approach on an almost daily basis.
He said: "They are important players, and while the staff and players are well prepared for this match, it is true that we have experienced some difficult moments.
"As a team manager it is my job to protect my players and prepare them well for the games, we know there are going to be some more challenges here and there."
Gabon resumed their Nations Cup campaign against Ghana, who lost their opener 1-0 to Morocco on Monday, before meeting the Atlas Lions next Tuesday in their final group game.
Aubameyang, who heads into the tournament against the backdrop of a troubled time at Arsenal, has struggled to make a mark in previous AFCON tournaments, with Mikel Arteta ousting him from captaincy after he breached club rules in December.
Gabon have been eliminated in the group stage in three of their four previous appearances in the tournament - as hosts in 2017 - with the exception coming in 2012, also on home soil, when Auba missed a shootout against Mali. Due to which the Panthers got a place in the semi-finals.