Parramatta are facing a hooking crisis after confirmation Nathan Peats is out for the season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
The news is a bitter blow for the Eels with Peats, who was recruited from South Sydney at the start of the year, one of the key players in the side's resurgence under coach Brad Arthur.
With Matt Keating, Casey McGuire and Anthony Mitchell offloaded by the club in recent years, there's an alarming lack of depth in the position with unproven youngster Kaysa Pritchard, who is Peats' understudy, struggling with a shoulder injury.
Former starting halfback Luke Kelly is the early favourite to fill the role with Kenny Edwards and Joseph Paulo in contention, but Arthur admits it's not an ideal situation with none of the trio specialist No.9s.
The coach is loathe to move Paulo from the lock spot, and Edwards struggled when he faced the Sydney Roosters in round two filling in for Peats as the Eels went down 56-4.
"Young Kays is injured so I don't know what we're going to do," Arthur said.
"He's got to have a cortisone so he could be gone for about two weeks, but he's not responding to treatment at the moment.
"It was an area we were concerned about as we are pretty well covered for injuries everywhere else."
The Eels are also struggling with their top-tier salary cap which is reportedly $80,000 over, making it difficult to sign a ready-made replacement from a rival club with the NRL unlikely to grant the club any leeway.
Peats' worst fears were confirmed on Sunday, two days after he sustained the injury in the defeat to Penrith, and Arthur admitted it left a big hole in his side.
"He was playing well and is going to be missed; it's hard for him," he said.
"He's a competitor and he was getting some form on the board and being mentioned for Origin."
Arthur watched Kelly play for Wentworthville against Wests Tigers on Sunday in the NSW Cup and ordered coach Brett Cook to move him to hooker in the second half to give him some experience in the role.
Former Roosters and North Queensland utility Ben Jones is also on the Magpies' books and is another option Arthur could explore as well.
"Luke is an option ... but, to be honest, I have no idea - my young fella could get a game!" Arthur said.
"We've had quite a few options thrown at us, but we haven't had a chance to sift through and work them out as we've been doing reviews and organising training."
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