Injured Cronulla lock Paul Gallen wants to secure a two- or three-year deal during his enforced lay-off, with the NSW Origin player keen to finish his career in the UK.

Gallen was Monday ruled out for four-to-six weeks with ligament damage in his right ankle which will keep him out of action until at least the third round of the NRL competition.

The MRI scan was good news for the 25-year-old who feared he'd face surgery and an extended stint on the sidelines.

"I thought it would be a pretty big lay-off, especially the way I felt Sunday - I was pretty bad," said Gallen.

"I thought the outcome would be a little bit better but it's a ruptured ligament.

"I want to be back maybe round three or four. It'd be good to only miss two games."

His biggest disappointment was the loss of such a strong preseason where he put last year's back problems behind him.

"The last six or seven weeks I was really confident and felt really good," he said.

"It's the best I have seen the team train in the last couple of years so I was really confident with the way we were going."

The lay-off gives Gallen time to contemplate his playing future with the Sharks facing opposition from Manly, who need a replacement for former skipper Ben Kennedy, for the off-contract forward.

"My manager has got a few things going on talking to Cronulla and other clubs but I'll let him deal with that and he'll come back to me when he has got a concrete figure," said Gallen who'd prefer to remain a one-club man at the Sharks.

"Not having to worry about footy the next couple of weeks hopefully I'll be able to get it sorted out.

"I would probably like at least two years ... three years would be nice ... I don't know if I want to go beyond that as England could be an option in a couple of years.

Meanwhile Parramatta coach Michael Hagan remains confident Eric Grothe will be available for the first round, with his ankle responding well to treatment.

Grothe told Hagan his ankle didn't feel as bad as a previous injury to his other leg, the Eels coach confident his NSW winger will be right for the opening clash against New Zealand Warriors.

"He says it's probably not as bad as when he hurt his other ankle a few years back which kept him out for four weeks," said Hagan.

"Hopefully it will be round one. He will get plenty of work done and we'll give him enough time to get it treated and hopefully it will settle down.

"The scan might confirm that for us tomorrow and tell us exactly what were dealing with."

Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes confirmed Utai would "struggle" to be fit for round one while prop Mark O'Meley (quadricep) and halfback Brent Sherwin (foot) were also behind schedule in their recoveries and could miss the season start.

"Mark's injury has carried on a little bit longer than we thought and so has Brent Sherwin," said Folkes.

"We'll just play it by year and hopefully they'll be alright."

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