Nathan Hindmarsh says he'll be devastated if Parramatta captain Nathan Cayless doesn't play in next weekend's NRL grand final.

Cayless picked up a hamstring injury in Friday night's 22-12 preliminary final win over the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, limping from ANZ Stadium after just nine minutes.

The Eels' "Nathans" are two of the club's three players, with Luke Burt, who played in their most recent grand final appearance, a loss to Newcastle in 2001.

Hindmarsh has talked openly about the importance of a premiership to the trio and says Cayless' loss would hurt everyone at the Eels.

"(I'd be) extremely disappointed," he said.

"He busts his arse week in week out.

"For him not to be there, if that's the case, it's just going to be I think very hard on everyone but it would be a huge disappointment to me personally."

Eels coach Daniel Anderson was less than optimistic when asked about the injury.

"It doesn't look good. We'll hope for the best but we do fear the worst," he said.

" ... He took himself off."

But Cayless offered some hope to the blue-and-gold army awaiting a first title since 1986.

"(It was) just a bit of a tweak so I thought I would get off and get it assessed so I didn't do too much damage," he said.

"The doctor and physio just kept me off so I didn't damage it too much.

"We've got a lot of time before the grand final next week so I've just got to do everything I can to get out there."

Hindmarsh said the win over the Bulldogs had been emotional for him.

"Why shouldn't there be (emotion)?" he said.

"We've come from eighth. We're in the grand final."

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