The run of bad luck has continued for Josh Dugan, with the Sharks star to miss the game against Souths tonight after being ruled out for three to four weeks with a lower leg issue.
Dugan experienced some discomfort in the closing stages of the Sharks win over the Knights, with scans this week revealing the extent of the problem.
"Josh has a stress reaction in his leg and we need to take the playing and training load away to enable it to recover," Sharks Physical Performance Manager Andrew Gray said. "We will assess his recovery and are hopeful he will be fit to return in round 16."
The latest injury comes as a blow to Dugan who was beginning to find his best form while at the same time striking up a lethal partnership with halves Matt Moylan and Chad Townsend.
With Dugan coming out of the Sharks team as selected on Tuesday, youngster Sione Katoa comes into the run on side, where he will be expected to share the fullback duties with regular winger Edrick Lee.
Katoa has been in strong form in the Intrust Super Premiership with the Newtown Jets after returning from a broken jaw suffered in the Sharks round one NRL match against the Cowboys in Townsville.
Sosaia Feki has also been recalled into the NRL side in place of Valentine Holmes who is on State of Origin duty, while Andrew Fifita has been given a clean bill of health after missing the Knights win last Sunday and will take on the powerful Souths forward pack in the game tonight.
Kurt Capewell is the other player omitted from the Sharks 19-man squad.
See the Sharks team list below.
NRL Team List – Round 13
Sharks v Rabbitohs
Friday, June 1
ANZ Stadium
Kick-off – 7.50pm
20- Sione Katoa
2- Sosaia Feki
3- Jesse Ramien
4- Ricky Leutele
5- Edrick Lee
6- Matt Moylan
7- Chad Townsend
8- Andrew Fifita
9- Jayden Brailey
10- Matt Prior
11- Luke Lewis
12- Wade Graham
13- Paul Gallen
Interchange
14- Joseph Paulo
15- James Segeyaro
16- Ava Seumanufagai
17- Jayson Bukuya
