Des Hasler remains confident Manly will be able to keep exciting young halfback Trent Hodkinson at the NRL club.

Hodkinson has been a main factor in the Sea Eagles' excellent first-half of the season but has been openly targeted by the Bulldogs, who are believed to have tabled a contract worth $275,000 a season for the former Parramatta junior.

Hasler hinted that the club are banking on the NRL to increase the salary cap before the end of the season so they can keep Hodkinson, but said the changes needed to come soon.

"Trent has been a revelation for us, but we find ourselves in the same position with a few players with the salary cap," Hasler said.

"I am not a betting man, but I think the cap will go up in the a couple of months.

"I think they will chisel some money out of sponsorship and whatever strategies they have, but they need to come soon."

On Sunday, the Sea Eagles take on a Brisbane side who have won their last three games largely thanks to the performances of the in-form Darren Lockyer.

"They have had a couple of wins and were good down at Shark Park on Sunday, they are a young, quick team and will be a tough game for us," Hasler said.

"Lockyer has proven time and time again he is a great player, but they have a lot of players playing well and will make it a very difficult game for us."

Manly sit second on the ladder despite not being able to call on the services of injured NSW duo Brett Stewart and David Williams for the whole season.

Influential prop George Rose is only just back from a long injury lay-off and captain Jamie Lyon is sidelined with an ankle problem and Hasler said the effort of his backroom staff was one of the main reasons for his side's lofty place on the table.

"We are hanging in there, we have to get through this difficult time with Origin call-ups and then we can really focus on the back end of the season," Hasler said.

"Most clubs find themselves in the same predicament with injuries and that is where you rely on your staff, it is where he rely on your medical team, your rehab team.

"They have worked tirelessly to keep our players in the best shape possible and deserve a lot of credit."

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