Retiring Cronulla prop Jason Stevens may have played his last rugby league game.

The Sharks have admitted the former Test frontrower is "struggling" with a shoulder injury and may not be available to play in the NRL finals in two weeks - if the club gets that far.

St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown this week said he expected Stevens to play for the Sharks in their qualifying final at WIN Stadium on Saturday night despite Keith Galloway named to start at prop.

Sharks coach Stuart Raper on Thursday rated Stevens a "day to day" proposition.

But a Cronulla official said: "Best case scenario would be a week before the grand final but of course that depends on results.

"His shoulder hasn't been improving at the rate that they had been hoping.

"They were hoping they would get strength back and mobility back quicker but it hasn't happened.

"They keep reassessing it but he is a long way from playing at the moment.

"Certainly his loss is a blow. It could be all over for him, we lose (on Saturday) and he's gone - it's not a great way to retire."

Stevens, 32, is undergoing intensive physio every day in a desperate bid to play again before he draws the curtain on his 13-year first grade career at the end of the season.

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