Manly insist Tom Trbojevic's back spasms are not related to any potential hamstring issues, with the superstar fullback cleared to face Melbourne on Friday night.
Trbojevic battled pain in his lower back in last Saturday night's loss to Penrith, prompting fears over potential tightness of his problematic hamstrings.
The Sea Eagles had initially suggested Trbojevic had required pain-killing injections at halftime to assist with the issue, before the attacking ace was able to continue without discomfort in the second half.
However, coach Anthony Seibild clarified on Thursday the back spasms had come as a result of a needle used to Trbojevic's left hip, after he copped a hit there weeks earlier.
"He's had a bit of soft tissue injury on his hip. A hip pointer from a bang," Seibold said.
"It stirs up a bit. He had a needle and it stirred up his back a bit.
"It's not uncommon. Most players get a hip-pointer injury at some stage when they get a bang on it. A needle numbs the pain.
"He was uncomfortable during the game, but he trained fully on Tuesday. He's fit to go."
Back problems have previously been linked to hamstring injuries, but asked if there was any concern that was the case with Trbojevic, Seibold said: "No, not at all."
The Manly coach also said he was concerned about the spotlight put on Trbojevic's fitness, as the 26-year-old attempts to put five hamstring injuries in five years out of his mind.
"Everything gets magnified with Tom. I feel sorry for him in a way because every week he has to read about an injury," Seibold said.
"I get the interest because he is one of the elite players in the game.
"But I feel for him because there is the constant dialogue: Is he fit, is he not? I don't think that's good for him.
"You probably have five or six players through the competition get a hip pointer. You get a bang, you get tackled.
"The constant speculation around his injuries, it's not a positive. It's a negative. Tom's got some really good processes in place in how he prepares each week."
Manly have ruled Josh Schuster out for a third straight week, with the half now targeting a return from a quad injury in the round-eight match against Wests Tigers on April 23.
Aaron Woods will also play for the first time, with Seibold keen for a bigger bench.
Seibold is also adamant his side can step up defensively after conceding 32 to Newcastle and 44 to Penrith in the past two weeks after a good start to the season.
"We have had some changes in personnel," Seibold said.
"Cohesion is a big thing in team sport, so when you make some changes to your edges, those things take some time.
"We've had another week to embed some of those players into the group."
