Cronulla are hopeful Wade Graham will be fit to return for their run to the NRL finals after the star second-rower injured his knee in Sunday’s win over Melbourne.

Graham left the field late in the first half of the sixth-placed Sharks’ 17-14 win over the Storm, and didn’t return after failing a sideline fitness test.

Initial scans revealed only a minor medial injury ruling him out for just one week, but the Cronulla co-captain was sent for further scans late on Monday night to confirm the final outcome.

Given that, there is still a chance he could be cleared fit to play North Queensland on Saturday.

The injury is the latest in a stop-start season for the the 27-year-old, who has missed six games this year through hamstring, groin, concussion and cheekbone issues as well as a suspension.

Sunday’s win was just the second time this year they have been able to field their best starting 13, with Graham, Josh Dugan, Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis having each spent a significant amount of time on the sidelines in 2018.

Despite that, the Sharks still remain just two points off a top-four finish with three games against bottom-eight teams to finish.

Cronulla also received good news on Monday with retiring second-rower Lewis also cleared of a knee injury after the 35-year-old left the field in discomfort on Sunday.

Meanwhile the other casualty from the match – Melbourne’s Ryan Hoffman – will go for scans on an injured hamstring on Tuesday after club medicos let bleeding subside on Monday.

The veteran former NSW and Kangaroos second-rower will retire at the end of the season, and the Storm remain hopeful the tear is not bad enough to rule him out for the rest of the year and end his career.