Penrith will hold off booking Kiwi backrower Frank Pritchard in for season-ending shoulder surgery until their NRL finals prospects have been decided.

Pritchard has been diagnosed with an unstable biceps tendon injury in his left shoulder.

It prevented the reportedly disgruntled star from returning to the fray in Monday night's big loss to Melbourne and has ruled him out of Sunday's match against the New Zealand Warriors.

The injury requires surgery, but Panthers medical officials say they will attempt to manage the injury in the hope Pritchard could play the last round against Manly should the Panthers still be alive in the race for the top eight.

Penrith face the Warriors in a virtual elimination final in Auckland on Sunday, with the loser to bow out of finals reckoning.

On top of the injury to the left shoulder, Pritchard is already facing a reconstruction to his right shoulder as soon as the Panthers season comes to an end.

The three-month rehabilitation has ruled him out of New Zealand's end of season World Cup campaign.

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