Parramatta's probable judiciary woes have been offset by the news Friday's opponents Brisbane are likely to be without skipper Darren Lockyer in what looms as a last throw of the dice for the Eels.

Forwards Ben Smith and Fuifui Moimoi are both sure to come under heavy scrutiny from the NRL match review committee following late and high tackles on Gold Coast skipper Scott Prince in Friday night's 34-12 loss to the Titans.

It was a defeat which left the Eels needing to win their last four games to make a run at the top eight, though it is likely even that may not be enough with Parramatta also needing other sides to falter in the home stretch.

But a win over the Broncos is a must and the odds of that occurring got a significant boost with news Lockyer was set to miss the Suncorp Stadium clash with a rib cartilage injury.

"My call today, right now would be that he won't (play)," Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen told ABC Radio.

"It's a rib cartilage injury ... certainly very few people play the next week.

"He was in a lot of pain on the field as he came off.

"I won't say 100 per cent that he won't play, but if I was a punter I'd be betting that he wouldn't."

Brisbane's injury worries are nothing compared top those facing South Sydney, who will be without up to nine players for their trip to Melbourne on Sunday.

Five-eighth John Sutton won't play again this season due to a dislocated shoulder, coach John Lang needing to unearth a new halves partner for Chris Sandow as his side walks the finals tightrope.

Winger Nathan Merritt could be another absentee after being placed on report for a high tackle in Saturday night's dramatic golden point win over Wests Tigers.

In contrast, the news just gets better for Gold Coast after they climbed back into the top four with NSW representative Greg Bird to return from a hamstring complaint against a North Queensland side minus Johnathan Thurston, who won't play again this NRL season with a fractured foot.

Bird's return leaves coach John Cartwright with an interesting dilemma given Mat Rogers' strong recent play at five-eighth.

Rogers was cleared of significant damage after leaving Friday night's game with a shin injury.

Meanwhile fears Manly prop Josh Perry had broken his leg were allayed on Sunday with the St Helens-bound big man confirmed to have suffered a dislocated tibia, which could allow a return in a fortnight.

Newcastle will be sweating on the results of scans for Jarrod Mullen (ribs) and prop Ben Cross (ankle) after the Knights kept their season alive with a 30-6 win over Canterbury on Sunday.

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