The Wests Tigers' finals ambitions have been dealt a big blow, with young playmaker Luke Brooks picking up a knee injury in his side's 23-8 NRL win over Parramatta.
Brooks picked up the injury early in Saturday's match but valiantly attempted to play on, twice getting on-field treatment from the trainer before finishing out the half.
However, the Tigers' No.7 failed to come out of the sheds after the break, with coach Jason Taylor sweating on scans to determine the extent of the injury, and possibly their finals' hopes.
"It's certainly not like an ACL. Seems to be PCL, but we'll see," Taylor said post-game.
Brooks' absence didn't stop the Tigers going on to claim a vital two points against the Eels and edge closer to the top eight with just five regular-season games remaining.
And although they remain in 10th spot, the Tigers join the 7th-placed Gold Coast, Penrith and the Warriors on 22 points ahead of next week's clash with North Queensland.
Tigers captain Aaron Woods said the team had a genuine opportunity to break a four-year finals drought.
"At the end of the day, if we just keep winning games, we don't have to worry about results," he said.
In front of a crowd of 14,428 at ANZ Stadium, long-range tries to David Nofoaluma and James Tedesco in the space of two minutes whisked the Tigers to a 14-2 lead by the 13th minute.
Nofoaluma made the most of Mitchell Moses' enterprising play in the 11th minute, before Tedesco finished off a clean Josh Aloiai break through the middle not long after.
Despite the double setback, the Eels, one day after releasing troubled star Kieran Foran from his four-year contract, were rewarded for their effort with a 37th-minute try to Vai Toutai.
However, that was as close as the home side were able to get, with Moses twice nailing penalty goals in the second half before sealing the win in the 74th minute with a grubber for Sauaso Sue to score.
The Tigers' pivot capped off a strong performance with a field goal minutes from fulltime.
"I thought Mitchell Moses really controlled the game well. He had to step up when Brooksy went down obviously after 30 or 25 minutes," Woods said.
Fill-in five-eighth Clinton Gutherson and fullback Michael Gordon tried hard for the Eels, while Tepai Moeroa was the only forward to crack the 100-metres gained mark.
Eels coach Brad Arthur bemoaned the absence of a number of first-choice regulars, including injured trio Michael Jennings, Semi Radradra, Beau Scott and suspended pair Manu Ma'u and Corey Norman.
"It's hard, but it gives other boys an opportunity," he said.
"They just need to make sure they step up and take it. Tim (Mannah) was the only player in our top 10 earners that played."
