Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks has been cleared of a major hamstring injury, but the NRL club is facing a forwards shortage when they return from this weekend's bye.
Brooks feared he had again torn the same hamstring that ruled him out for three weeks when he went down in the lead up Friday's 36-0 to the Broncos, but scans have revealed it has fully healed.
He is now confident he will be fit to pilot the Tigers for his first game without departed five-eighth Mitchell Moses, against St George Illawarra in round 13.
However it is not all good news for the embattled club, with veteran second-rower Chris Lawrence facing at least another match on the sideline, also with a hamstring injury.
Prop Sauaso Sue on Monday accepted a one-match ban for a high tackle on Anthony Milford, while edge man Josh Aloiai is awaiting scans on an ugly patella dislocation from Friday's loss.
Lawrence said he was hopeful of returning in time for round 14 against Sydney Roosters.
"It was minor so hopefully it's a two-to-three week thing," he said.
The Tigers will likely recall the likes of JJ Felise into the team, while uncapped reserve grade captain Matt Eisenhuth is also understood to be pushing on the door.
But off the field, Tigers players are confident they have turned a corner.
With the futures of their so-called Big Four sorted, the squad will get away with coach Ivan Cleary for a three-day camp in Manly this week ahead of their bye.
"Everything has died down now," Brooks said.
"That's definitely a good thing. Every training session there would be heaps of media.
"Now that it's all dying down we can concentrate on playing football and no more distractions."
The Tigers are ranked 15th on the ladder at 3-8, but Lawrence said new coach Cleary could only change so much mid-season.
"There's still been plenty of external pressure and speculation so he's just tried to keep things simple for us," Lawrence said.
"In terms of massive wholesale changes there's not a great deal you can change mid-season."
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