Sydney Roosters back-rower Sonny Bill Williams has lost his fitness battle and will miss Saturday night's NRL clash against Cronulla.
Williams failed a fitness test on Thursday after straining his hamstring in the Roosters' round 17 win over St George Illawarra.
It will be the first match Williams has missed since returning to the NRL this season following his stint in rugby union.
Mitchell Aubusson is expected to come off the five-man bench to replace Williams in the starting side.
While the loss of Williams is a blow, the Roosters will have all four NSW Origin representatives on deck.
It will be a big night for halfback Mitchell Pearce as he looks to bounce back from a poor performance in Wednesday night's Origin loss, a match many believe could be his last in the sky blue of NSW.
Roosters teammates and officials have been vocal in their support of the under-siege No.7, with club director Mark Bouris the latest to add his voice to the cause.
Bouris penned a letter on the Roosters website in which he described Pearce as an inspiration.
Cronulla have lost Luke Lewis for the Allianz Stadium encounter after he strained a calf in Origin III, the star back-rower joining skipper Paul Gallen, Wade Graham, Anthony Tupou, Jeff Robson and Beau Ryan on the sidelines for the Sharks.
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