Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah may make his comeback from back surgery in a NSW Cup trial with Balmain next weekend with the club short of options for the star to have a proper pre-season hit out.

The Tigers have just one more pre-season trial left before the NRL season starts, but it is a clash against NSW Cup side Shellharbour on March 6.

Coach Tim Sheens was hoping Farah would get the chance for NRL standard football before the season starts, but now has to rely on some lower league action to test his star hooker.

Farah missed the Tigers' 16-12 Foundation Cup loss to the Sydney Roosters in last Saturday's game at the SFS as club officials took a cautious approach to his return to playing.

"I would have liked another hit-out but that's not to be," said Sheens.

"I would have liked Robbie having some time but he may play next week in a lower grade trial with Balmain. We will wait and see.

"There's nothing we can do about it, we will just go out with our best side in two weeks time (against Shellharbour).

"We're playing right before the comp starts and we will have to use that to get as much out of it as we can."

The Tigers are one of the few teams not playing a trial next week, but are the only NRL side to play the week prior to the regular season kick off.

Sheens however said he was happy with how the side was travelling into the new season, with Benji Marshall taking giant strides in his development as the new halfback.

British backrower Gareth Ellis is also showing promising signs, while prop Keith Galloway is looming as a handful in the middle of the park.

The only area Sheens has concerns is with the Tigers' finishing, as several try scoring opportunities were bombed against the Roosters.

"I think we created enough to be happy with that, it's just finishing it off that needs work," he said.

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