Injured Melbourne skipper Robbie Kearns is making a desperate bid to play in Saturday's NRL semi-final against North Queensland, using a hyperbaric chamber to help speed the recovery of his damaged shoulder.

Kearns dislocated his shoulder in the Storm's 24-18 upset of Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium last weekend, with scans on Monday showing the damage around the affected area was not as bad as first feared.

Kearns has a badly bruised rotator cuff and a slight tear in the shoulder joint capsule - injuries which normally take at least a week to get right.

But the 33-year-old, who will retire once the Storm's finals campaign ends, believes he is some chance of playing in Saturday night's match at Aussie Stadium and started hyperbaric treatment to hasten the repair process.

"I was probably expecting the worst but the results came through that it was not as bad as first thought," Kearns said.

"I most probably will still be pushing time a bit to be fit for the game, so I've got to give it every chance possible.

"Say even if the hyperbaric chamber makes one per cent difference, it might help me get on the field for this weekend - I'll try everything I can."

But Melbourne fullback Billy Slater's season appears over - the Queensland State of Origin star was on crutches after spraining his left ankle at the weekend.

Slater was told on Sunday he would miss between two and six weeks, but is clinging to the hope that the Storm makes the grand final to give him an outside chance of playing again this year.

"I've got three weeks until the grand final and if the boys can get there, I'll be doing everything in my power to get myself back on the field," Slater said.

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