Rest easy Parramatta fans, veteran back-rower Nathan Hindmarsh has come up with a solution to the NRL club's halves woes ahead of Friday night's ANZ Stadium clash against South Sydney.

"I've thought about it and I've made the executive decision that I'm going to play in the No.6," Hindmarsh offered with a cheeky grin.

"Just for one half to see how it goes."

While things may not have got to that stage just yet, Hindmarsh's quip is a sign of how bad the Eels' struggles at five-eighth and halfback have been this season.

They started the year with Brett Finch and Jarryd Hayne at seven and six, but Finch now finds himself plying his trade for Melbourne after being told he wasn't in the club's plans while Hayne has only found form since being moved to his favoured fullback position a fortnight ago.

Jeff Robson lasted all of three games as Finch's replacement before he was dumped for a new pairing of Kris Keating and Feleti Mateo.

That combination looked like it was finally finding its feet with a bright start to last week's game against Manly, before Keating (broken jaw) and Mateo (torn bicep) both went down with injuries which are likely to keep them sidelined for three months.

It's left coach Daniel Anderson with little option but to again turn to Robson in the No.7, while winger Joel Reddy - who has never played five-eighth at senior level - will wear the No.6.

Anderson has also named 20-year-old halfback Daniel Mortimer - son of former Bulldogs great Peter Mortimer - on an extended bench, though a final decision on whether he makes his NRL debut will be made on Friday.

"They're going to be a massive loss," Hindmarsh said of the Keating-Mateo double blow.

"We're struggling as is and now to lose our key playmakers, it's going to be very difficult for us for the rest of the season.

"Hopefully in saying that we'll become a stronger unit and hopefully we beat some teams.

"We won't give up, I've been playing rugby league for a long time now and I've never been in a side that's given up."

Should he play, the slightly built Mortimer - weighing all of 79kg - is sure to be a target in defence for the likes of Rabbitohs big men Roy Asotasi and David Fa'alogo.

Coach Jason Taylor said a final decision on the availability of halfback Chris Sandow, who missed the final half hour of his side's epic 23-22 win over Wests Tigers with an ankle injury, will be made on game day.

Should Sandow be forced to withdraw, hooker Issac Luke will likely move into the halves with Jamie Simpson coming off the bench to start at dummy half.

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