Fullback Ben Barba will miss the Sharks match with the Roosters on Sunday with a rib injury.
Barba failed to come through an opposed training session with the Sharks NSW Cup feeder team the Newtown Jets tonight and was ruled out by the club's medical staff.
"Ben has a painful rib injury and it was decided not to play him this week against the Roosters," Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said. "By missing this match, with the bye next weekend, it gives Ben two weeks to get over it and to get it right."
The absence of Barba means either Valentine Holmes or Michael Gordon will slot into the fullback role, with Sosaia Feki and Ricky Leutele set to return from injury. Feki and Leutele were both named on an extended Sharks interchange bench.
In other Sharks injury news, skipper Paul Gallen trained strongly and is likely to be fit to return on Sunday after being sidelined since round six with a glute injury.
The Sharks will finalise their 17-man side at the team's final training run on Saturday morning.
