Kalyn Ponga is likely to be rested another week as he overcomes a hamstring complaint.
The nib Newcastle Knights fullback is poised to ramp up his training later this week but Physical Performance Manager, Tony Ayoub, expects Ponga to sit-out Saturday's clash with the Gold Coast.
"He's so laid back, it's hard sometimes but tracking really well," Ayoub told newcastleknights.com.au.
"We got some speed out of him (on Monday). We're hopefully going to toss him in for a bit of skills on Wednesday but realistically we're looking at one more round before we get him back."
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In some good news for the Club, forward Jacob Saifiti is nearing a return from a shoulder injury.
Ayoub said the 22-year-old will visit the specialist this week for a check-up and will ramp up his training providing he's given the tick of approval.
"We're going to toss him into some skills for about two to three weeks," he said.
Casualty ward: Ponga progress, Saifiti boost and Sione fracture
"Realistically we're looking at Round 22 or Round 23 which will give us a couple of games at the end of the season.
"He's working really hard."
The most recent addition to the injured unit is Sione Mata'utia.
The centre will miss a few weeks with a fractured eye socket.
"Although he's got a fracture to the eye socket, the function (of the eye) is quite good," Ayoub said.
"We're going to sit on it for a couple of weeks and then reassess it but we're looking at probably three or four weeks out.
Saifiti: The difference Pearce makes
"That's better than we initially thought with such a large fracture. We thought it was going to be the season. Pretty much the next six weeks but we've got some positive news."
Injured players and expected return dates:
Tautau Moga (ACL, Season)
Slade Griffin (Knee, Season)
Jacob Saifiti (Shoulder, Round 22-23)
Sione Mata'utia (Fractured eye socket, Round 22)
Kalyn Ponga (Hamstring, Round 19-20)
