A return to the No.7 jersey beckons for Peter Wallace with Nathan Cleary struck down with a medial ligament injury in Penrith’s Friday’s NRL loss to Canterbury.

The Panthers’ star playmaker did not return to field after halftime after copping a knee injury early in the thrilling 20-18 defeat to the Dogs at ANZ Stadium.

The NSW State of Origin hopeful will undergo scans on Saturday however early suggestions were it was a grade one and he would miss anywhere from two to four weeks.

He is long odds to be fit on a short turnaround for Thursday night’s encounter with North Queensland in Townsville.

Cleary’s injury leaves coach Anthony Griffin short on options on who to partner James Maloney in the halves.

Tyrone May, who guided the Panthers to the second week of the finals last year, is not expected back from an ACL injury until round five.

Former NSW halfback Wallace shapes as a left-field option despite having found a new lease on life at hooker the last two seasons.

He slotted into the halves, with utility Tyrone Peachey filling in at dummy-half, in the second half against the Bulldogs and Griffin suggested he could move there during Cleary’s absence.

“Pete did a reasonable job there, being thrown in at five-eighth,” Griffin said.

“Jimmy did a lot of the first-receiver stuff and was almost good enough to get us home.

“We’ll have a look at that, cool down and take stock.”