Wests Tigers' superstar Benji Marshall could be a late inclusion in the side to play Parramatta in Friday night's NRL clash.

Marshall was due to run with the Tigers on Thursday after suffering a knee injury three weeks ago in the loss to Melbourne.

The Kiwi captain wasn't named by coach Tim Sheens this week but the Tigers' boss is considering playing Marshall in the crucial Parramatta Stadium showdown.

"He hasn't run for a week-and-a-half so we'll need to be 100 per cent sure," Sheens told reporters on Thursday.

"My leaning is it will be the week after.

"If he's fit, yeah (he'll play), but if he's not fit, no.

"He wants to play but, unless you're actually prepared, there's no use thinking you can do it. You've got to practise it and do it."

If Marshall is out, his place at five-eighth will again be taken by youngster Jacob Miller, although Eels' coach Stephen Kearney said his side is preparing as if Marshall will play.

State of Origin trio Jarryd Hayne and Tim Mannah (Eels) and Keith Galloway (Tigers) are expected to to back up for a clash which takes on must-win proportions for Parramatta.

Plenty of interest will surround Tigers' centre Chris Lawrence's comeback from a horrendous injury.

The Test back dislocated his hip in the Tigers' round three clash with Canberra, an injury which at the time was considered career-threatening.

Sheens is putting no pressure on Lawrence, who has been sorely missed by a Tigers side in an intense battle for positions in the lower half of the top eight.

"You've got to understand he's had more than a three-month layoff so you're not just going to say 'score four tries, Chris'," Sheens said.

"I just want him to do his job. He'll bring some strength to the side, some speed on the left edge but again I'm making sure we're not concerning ourselves with expecting the world from him.

"It's physically, let alone psychologically, hard what he's going to go through."

Sheens said Lawrence could have been ready to play before the Tigers' bye last weekend but the club wasn't taking any risks.

"I'm very happy with where he's at," Sheens said.

"He is too but he'll still need to make the first few tackles and the first few runs before he's confident."

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