Dylan Brown's absence at five-eighth won't derail Parramatta's on-song attack against Cronulla, with coach Brad Arthur insisting Jaeman Salmon can seamlessly transition into the role.
Salmon will play his first game in the No.6 jersey this year against the Sharks on Saturday night, after Brown was ruled out indefinitely with a back injury.
His absence will come as a massive blow to the Eels, who have had the NRL's third-most potent attack with Brown playing direct and firing alongside in-form halfback Mitchell Moses.
But Arthur said no dramatic shifts will have to be made to either Parramatta's attack or Moses' game to accommodate the move.
"This time last year we thought Jaeman was going to be part of our future in the halves. He got an opportunity at the back end of last year and did a good job," Arthur said.
"His energy on the ball, he will push up on the football and run the football. Very similar to Dylan. And he's a big body."
The 20-year-old Salmon was originally considered the favourite for Corey Norman's old No.6 jersey when the Queenslander left the club in the off-season.
But Brown's irresistible form - coupled with Salmon's drink-driving suspension - saw him leapfrogged by the 18-year-old and left to push for a centre and bench utility spot at the start of the season.
"Jaeman's done a bit in the halves and done a bit in the centres, back and forth," Arthur said.
"When you do opposed he's done a fair bit of training against us in the halves, so he's done more than enough. He's played all his career as a half."
Meanwhile Parramatta remain unsure when Brown will return.
He copped a new back injury from a hit in a February trial against Penrith, and he has since been managed with the blow struggling to heal amid his current workloads.
"We don't know if he's going to be out for two weeks or four weeks or longer ... We're probably just erring on the side of caution.," Arthur said.
"He's got a sore back, he wants to play, I want him to play, but he's not allowed to."
STATS THAT MATTER
* Parramatta are conceding the least penalties per game this year.
* Cronulla's 2-1 start to the 2019 season is their best since 2013.
* Cronulla are gunning for six straight NRL wins over the Eels.
