St George Illawarra second-rower Tariq Sims believes his brother Korbin could be the ideal man to fill the shoes of Jack de Belin if required at the Dragons this year.
De Belin was on Monday formally stood down by the NRL under their no-fault policy, a ban he will challenge at Federal Court on Thursday morning.
The NSW State of Origin lock is not expected to play in Saturday's round-one clash with North Queensland regardless of whether he gets an injunction, with second-rower Tyson Frizell expected to move to the middle.
But if a replacement is needed long-term, Sims said Korbin would be the ideal man after his two-match ban for a lifting tackle while at Brisbane in last year's finals is complete.
"We've got another ugly bloke, he's just as big and just as strong and a bit younger in my little brother who came to the club," Sims said.
"He's cut from the same cloth, he's a bit taller than Jack. He does the same movements as Jack. He always hits through the ball, is a really good ball-player.
"Obviously he's new to the club so adjusting to that structure is going to be the toughest part. But we've just come off a 16-week pre-season."
Under the terms of the playing ban, de Belin will remain on full pay and be able to train with the Dragons until a sexual assault case - which he has pleaded not guilty to - is finalised.
But given the defence could stretch on into next year, it may leave the 27-year-old sidelined for the entire NRL season if he is unable to stop the ban.
The Dragons are yet to pick up an external replacement player under a salary cap exemption, with uncertainty over both the rule and de Belin's short-term future combining to see Sam Kasiano prefer a move to France from Melbourne last week.
Meanwhile recruit Korbin Sims has spent the majority of his career coming off the bench, but has spent time playing in the middle at both lock and in the front row.
He was purchased by the Dragons from the Broncos as a like-for-like replacement for Leeson Ah Mau, who left the Saints for the Warriors at the end of last year.
