Cronulla hooker James Segeyaro will be sidelined for six weeks after breaking his arm in the NRL club's win over Melbourne in the grand final rematch.
The Sharks confirmed on Tuesday that scans revealed the former Penrith rake fractured the same arm he broke with the Panthers last season.
Playing in his third game of the season, Segeyaro is believed to have suffered the injury seconds into his second half insertion but he played on and scored the match-sealing try.
Rookie Jayden Brailey is likely to shoulder the hooking role as he did over the opening three weeks, however Manaia Cherrington and Fa'amanu Brown could also enter calculations.
A fourth option in Daniel Mortimer is also out with a knee injury.
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Brailey played the full 80 minutes in rounds two and three before his minutes began to decrease following Segeyaro's arrival in round four.
The third-placed Sharks on Sunday take on a struggling Penrith side likely to welcome back their banned trio in skipper Matt Moylan, Peta Hiku and Waqa Blake.
Injured players Tyrone Peachey, Bryce Cartwright and James Fisher-Harris could also return.
