Manly officials are hopeful Tom Trbojevic will be back in action in just three weeks after scans confirmed the superstar fullback had suffered a low-grade strain to his right hamstring.

Fans feared the worst when Trbojevic broke down in the first half of Sunday’s 38-32 loss to the Gold Coast Titans, and a report on Monday stated he was unlikely to return before the finals, which begin in just over seven weeks.

The 29-year-old has now had nine hamstring injuries in eight seasons, including one earlier this year when he hobbled off in the first half in Townsville.

The Sea Eagles have lost their three past games and host the in-form Cronulla Sharks on Sunday afternoon. They have the bye the following week, which is when they say they will reassess their co-captain.

A ten-hour round trip to take on Melbourne in Perth in round 23 may prompt the club to keep him on an ice an extra week, when they host the Dolphins.

Kieran Foran was able to utilise Trbojevic’s knowledge in the coach’s box the last time he was recovering from injury.

Foran said about Trbojevic after the Titans defeat: “It’s very hard to replace a guy like Tom. He’s one of the elite players of our game. He’s an elite leader of our game, and he brings so much to our group … but it just means the other guys have got to pick up where he’s going to be missing, and I’ve got full confidence that we can do that.”

Meanwhile, the Tigers are heading to the judiciary in a bid to have Adam Doueihi and Latu Fainu cleared to play against Canberra on Saturday.

Doueihi was hit with a grade-two careless high tackle on Canterbury’s Harry Hayes, but can escape with a fine should he have the charge downgraded.

Fainu pleaded not guilty to a grade-three dangerous contact charge for a tackle on Leo Thompson, which left commentators, including Andrew Johns, stunned.

“He’s done nothing wrong, he’s tackled low,” Johns said on the Sunday Footy Show after watching replays of Fainu going low and flipping Thompson upside down. “You can’t take accidents out of the game. It’s not even a penalty.”

Fainu risks a three-match ban if found guilty. A double ban would mean a recall for Jock Madden, and possible a debut for 19-year-old rookie Javon Andrews.

In what is sure to be a busy night at the judiciary, South Sydney will also seek a downgrade for David Fifita, who was charged with kicking Raiders forward Hudson Young.

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