Xerri in contention as Sharks brace for Moylan blow

Sharks young gun Bronson Xerri will come into contention for a highly-anticipated first grade debut as Cronulla braces to be without Matt Moylan for the next month.

The Sharks' big win over North Queensland came at a hefty cost with Moylan shot down suddenly by a hamstring injury, the former NSW Origin star due for scans on Monday.

Skipper Paul Gallen also aggravated a rib cartilage issue that he first sustained during last week's win over the Gold Coast, while Jayson Bukuya's calf tightness is not expected to see him miss next week's clash with Parramatta.

But Moylan remains the Sharks' key concern, with a grade one or two hamstring strain likely to sideline him for at least a month.

Adding to concerns is Moylan's history of hamstring issues, having injured the same left leg in 2017 and re-injured the same hamstring when he returned to the paddock with Penrith.

Josh Dugan shapes as a readymade replacement at fullback for Cronulla, bringing Xerri into the frame for an NRL debut in Saturday's showdown with the Eels.

Xerri is rated one of the best prospects in a bumper crop of local youngsters, the junior rep centre having come through the grades alongside Kyle Flanagan, Briton Nikora and the Brailey brothers.

Former Sharks coach Shane Flanagan had been willing to blood Xerri last year, only for NRL rules to deny him his debut prior to his 18th birthday.

The prognosis on Gallen was more positive on Sunday, though back-rower Scott Sorenson was a late withdrawal from Newtown's Canterbury Cup fixture as a precaution.

Gallen only managed 23 minutes against North Queensland, in which he broke Andrew Ettingshausen's record for most club appearances with his 329th outing for Cronulla.

But speaking to Channel Nine on Sunday, the Sharks skipper said pain management over the next week would dictate if he takes the field in round four.

"It's not too bad, it's not clicking or unstable this morning, which is good," Gallen told Wide World of Sports.

"That's what the concern was last night. We'll just wait over the next three or four days and see how it is.

"Just a rib cartilage, it's not broken or anything. They [the Sharks medical staff] can feel that it's popped out a little bit."

Bukuya's calf concern in the 42-16 thumping of North Queensland had also raised eyebrows, but NRL.com understands the veteran second-rower was set to return to the field until Moylan's 68th minute injury forced a Sharks reshuffle.