Wigan Warriors head coach Adrian Lam will continue to tread carefully over the fitness of Zak Hardaker as he bids to recover from a bulging disc.
The full-back has not played since being sent off in the 48-0 defeat at Catalans Dragons on May 29.
That earned him a two-match ban but a worrying neck injury has sidelined him and required that Hardaker rest for at least four weeks.
Lam said: “Zak’s got a bulging disc, so he’s had a needle in there to help settle that.
“He can’t come back and do any contact training until that bulging disc subsides a certain distance in the back of his neck.
“That’s where that sits. It’s meant to be a four-week lay-off for any contact at all and I think we're into week two and a half now.
“After that he will get re-Xrayed and if the movement is positive for us then he can continue to get back into full contact and consideration for selection.
“It’s a really difficult one for us and I think Tony Clubb was in a similar situation last year.”
Hardaker has been sorely missed in recent games as Wigan have slumped to five successive defeats.
It is their worst losing run in Super League since 2006 and Hardaker has joined key men such as Bevan French and John Bateman on the sidelines.
On Hardaker’s absence, Lam added: “Again, it’s to benefit Zak in his health and wellbeing.
“It’s not a good injury to have when you’re getting pins and needles in the back of your arm.
“We’ve got to monitor that on a weekly basis going forward.”
