Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has compared his side's catalogue of injuries to problems faced by NRL teams blighted by State of Origin call-ups.

The Tigers do not have anyone involved in the NSW or Queensland Origin sides, but Lote Tuqiri limped off with a syndesmosis-type injury just five minutes into his return from a broken arm last Monday against Newcastle and will spend up to six weeks on the sidelines.

The dual international winger joins outside backs Chris Lawrence, Matt Utai and Geoff Daniela as well as prop Todd Payten, in a treatment room that has only just been vacated by Wade McKinnon and Gareth Ellis.

"I would love to have my left edge intact, I have been without Gareth, Chrissy Lawrence and Lote for long periods of time this season," Sheens said on Friday.

"I know sides have their State of Origin issues, but that is our State of Origin issue, we have had some of our best players out.

"If you add Todd Payten to that list, we have been going through State of Origin-like problems for eight weeks."

McKinnon will return to face former club the Warriors in Auckland on Sunday following a hamstring injury and Ellis performed strongly against the Knights following a six-week absence with an ankle problem.

"Wade is back, we rested him last week, he wanted to play, but we wouldn't let him, to get him ready for this game," he said.

"It is against his old team so that makes it a big game for him."

Sheens hinted at being resigned to losing props Andrew Fifita and Bryce Gibbs who have been negotiating with Cronulla this week, but the veteran coach said nothing had been rubber-stamped with the Sharks yet.

"There is negotiations going on at the minute with Cronulla but it is the hands of the administrators," he said.

Both players would be granted early releases to join Shane Flanagan's side, with Gibbs still having three years left on his deal and Fifita 12 months.

Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys said nothing had been agreed between the two parties yet, but expected there to be news on that front very soon.

"It would be wrong of me to go into details about contracts, but I think there will be some movement next week," Humphreys told AAP.

Humphreys also denied that the pair's release was a sign that New Zealand prop Adam Blair was on his way to the club in a big-money move from Melbourne.

"The offer is still on the table for Adam, but it is his right to take his time, and we are not going to rush him into making a decision," he said.

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