The renowned healing powers of Luke O'Donnell have given North Queensland Cowboys coach Neil Henry hope that he has not seen the last of the former Test backrower.

Scans have confirmed the UK Super League-bound enforcer has been diagnosed with a grade two medial ligament tear in his left knee, an injury that usually requires six weeks on the sidelines.

Not good news considering the Cowboys have just three games left in the NRL regular season.

But Henry said on Tuesday that he was keeping his fingers crossed the former Test backrower would run out in Cowboys colours one last time against the Sydney Roosters in Townsville on September 4 - their 2010 finale.

"He tends to recover quite quickly," he said.

"He looks after himself very well so there is a slight possibility that he could play in the Roosters game.

"But we will have to wait and see how his knee repairs itself over the next couple of weeks."

O'Donnell will end his seven year stint at the Cowboys and leave for UK club Huddersfield at the end of the season.

Incredibly the Cowboys now have seven forwards unavailable for Saturday night's Townsville clash with the Bulldogs - a tally that could blow out to eight if Scott Bolton fails to beat a biting charge at the NRL judiciary.

It has prompted Henry to elevate 21-year-old backrower Nick Slyney for his first NRL game of 2010.

Henry admitted he had never seen forward stocks ravaged so badly before at a club.

"Not really. It's a lot of players," he said.

"Our stocks are depleted, and it's a difficult time for the club.

"But someone's misfortune is another's opportunity and Nick gets one."

Despite their horror run, Henry was not flying the white flag against the Bulldogs.

"There is a bit of adversity for us ... but we have to step up," he said.

"But with senior guys like Matt Bowen, Carl Webb, Willie Mason, Aaron Payne, Ash Graham and Willie Tonga we have enough experience and talent out there to get a win."

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