Manly's stretched NRL squad has become even thinner, with young winger Brad Parker ruled out for up to six weeks due to a knee injury.
Scans confirmed on Monday that Parker suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee when he got up to play the ball after a tackle in Sunday's flogging at the hands of Parramatta.
The club confirmed he would miss between four and six weeks, adding to a horror April in which they've fallen from fifth to 13th on the ladder and also suffered off-field woes.
Tuesday shapes as another tough day for the Sea Eagles with Trent Barrett set to make a call on the make up of his side given Jorge Taufua is also still injured.
Matthew Wright will likely be called from the bench and onto the wing, leaving the door open for a utility to be selected on the interchange bench.
Barrett refused to buy into talk on Sunday about whether exiled utility Jackson Hastings would be recalled to the side, given he could fit the role.
Veteran Lewis Brown has also filled a similar position on Manly's bench in the past, while Jonathan Wright has played one game this year on the wing.
Barrett said on Sunday that Parker's injury typified Manly's difficult week.
"He's done his knee playing the ball so it's pretty indicative of our day," he said.
"We are under the pump. We're in a hole. The only way out of it is to stick together and fight our way out of it."
