Parramatta pair Manu Ma’u and George Jennings will be sweating on scans to clear them of knee injuries that could keep them out of their NRL season-opener.
Ma’u and Jennings both picked up knee issues in their impressive 20-0 pre-season shutout of Penrith on Saturday.
Reserve-grader Stefano Utoikamanu was a third player to fail to finish the match, however coach Brad Arthur feared for Manu’s long-term status the most.
“I don’t think George is too bad. Probably Manu’s the main one (to be worried about),” Arthur said post-match.
The loss of Manu would test the depth of the Eels’ second row stocks, where Tepai Moeroa is now likely to back up Shaun Lane and Marata Niukore.
Should Jennings fail to recover in time for their round-one re-match against the Panthers, rookie winger Maika Sivo could get an opportunity.
The towering Fijian nabbed a try in the trial, however Arthur was impressed with his chasedown of a breakaway Panthers player in the game’s waning moments.
“I liked Maiko’s chase with a couple of minutes to go,” Arthur said.
“I don’t know where he come from, but he managed to drag someone down and we got behind the ball. It was important enough to us to keep them to zero.
“He missed the majority of pre-season with his shoulder so he hasn’t had a real good opportunity. It would’ve been nice to get him a couple more games.
“Physically, obviously he’s an athlete.”
Rookie five-eighth Dylan Brown also produced a handful of classy touches in a composed display alongside Mitchell Moses.
The teenager has come under the spotlight this pre-season after revelations the Warriors attempted to poach him on a mammoth deal in recent weeks.
“It’s always going to be around the physicality and I thought he handled himself okay. But round one’s going to go to a whole new level,” Arthur said.
Major signing Junior Paulo was a late scratching from the trial after picking up a hamstring injury but had a light run on Saturday and is likely for round one.