St George Illawarra skipper Mark Gasnier and Parramatta star Krisnan Inu will both miss the Centenary Test next month as the game's showpiece falls victim to injury.

Incumbent Kangaroos centre Gasnier has been ruled out for four weeks after an MRI scan revealed a torn right calf muscle.

And while Kiwi young gun Inu was initially expected to return next week from his ankle injury, the Eels centre said he was at least another "four or five weeks" away with his leg still in a cast.

Australian centre Justin Hodges may yet join the casualty list as he was sent for scans on his neck, the Brisbane champion waking up very stiff and sore from Sunday's win over Newcastle.

Broncos officials say the scans are only precautionary but an anxious Hodges heard a "grinding" sound when he barrelled head-first into the turf attempting to tackle Knights fullback Kurt Gidley early in the game and wants clarity on his neck pain.

It would be a further blow to an Australian team already hit hard by injury.

Incumbent prop Steve Price (hamstring), front row contender Luke Bailey (wrist) and backrow option Steve Simpson (knee) are all unavailable for Australia in the historic May 9 clash against New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Skipper Darren Lockyer remains in serious doubt as he battles to recover from his offseason knee reconstruction.

New Zealand aren't without their own issues, Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall unlikely to return from the knee injury he sustained in round one and Manly centre Steve Matai (neck), Cowboys lock Sione Faumuina (groin) and Souths hooker Issac Luke (broken hand) all have injury concerns.

Gasnier suffered his injury during the Dragons' 20-16 NRL loss to North Queensland on Saturday night but was still able to complete the game.

He has been ruled out until round 10, one week after the Test match.

Aside from his Test aspirations the injury is a huge blow to Gasnier's club as the Dragons have struggled to just one win from their opening five games.

They face a tough month ahead with games against the Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters and Parramatta before their round 10 clash with Melbourne.

In other NRL injury news, Roosters centre Setaimata Sa looks set to miss at least the next four to six weeks with ligament damage in his knee.

Prop Mark O'Meley however remains a 50-50 chance of playing Newcastle in Gosford on Sunday, diagnosed with a grade one hamstring tear.

Fellow recruit Willie Mason is certain to return after missing last Saturday's win over Penrith with a medial ligament strain in his knee.

Knights halfback Scott Dureau will miss the game with his ankle injury, but with Newcastle having a round seven bye he should only miss the one game.

Dureau's absence should force Kurt Gidley into halfback, giving the Knights utility ample opportunity to press for the NSW No.7 jersey.

Manly backrower Anthony Watmough is "highly unlikely" to play in Friday's crunch clash with Parramatta with an ankle injury.

Watmough was sent for scans on Monday but Eagles officials doubt he will recover in time to face the Eels.

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