CRONULLA Sharks are resigned to not seeing their international stars, captain Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis, before round nine.
The pair won't play in Saturday night's round seven game against defending premiers, Sydney Roosters, at Remondis Stadium.
"The thinking is to rest them for next week's round eight game against the Panthers so they get the bye round for an extra week to recover and gain extra strength," a Sharks spokesman told the Leader yesterday.
Against this is the willingness of Gallen, in particular, to be available for the representative round and the May 2 Friday night Test between the Kangaroos and New Zealand.
However, he also doesn't want to jeopardise his ability to be able to lead NSW in State of Origin I against Queensland, after round 11 (on May 28)
The Sharks were hoping former international Anthony Tupou and winger Beau Ryan would be right to return after long injury absences.
However, Ryan didn't train and Tupou (knee) lasted until the last 15 minutes of yesterday's team session, before retiring from training.
After playing in the bog of Brooky last weekend, the Sharks have planned to return to the form that saw them whitewash the New Zealand Warriors at Remondis Stadium a fortnight ago.
Despite the 24-4 loss to Manly, coach Peter Sharp refused the temptation of wielding the axe.
Instead he has only brought back Jonathon Wright for winger Nathan Stapleton, who bagged three tries against the Warriors. No other players trained with the first grade side yesterday, with Isaac de Gois putting paid to injury fears after coming off in the first half against Manly.
The Sharks were boosted by the resigning of interim captain Wayde Graham for the next three years and are renegotiating an extension for Origin prop forward Andrew Fifita.
The 23-year-old reportedly knocked back a deal from South Sydney to accept an upgraded contract extension with the Sharks, with the Rabbitohs in a desperate search to replace Sam Burgess, who is making a switch to rugby union at season's end.
Last year's premiers the Roosters will be primed for a big effort after losing their last three games.
How do you think the Sharks will go against the Roosters this weekend?
GRADUATING JOHN
SHARKS star John Morris graduated from the University of Sydney last Friday with a masters in education (coaching).
For the father of two, with a bachelor of teaching/PDHPE degree and a certificate IV in personal training, it meant the finish of two years of study in between a full-time football career which has him creeping towards 300 NRL matches (more than 100 for Sharks).
EASTER DEAL
A PRE-purchase ticket will cost families just $50 on Easter Saturday, with an appearance by the Easter bunny, Easter egg giveaways, face paining and temporary tattoos for the children (tickets online or from Sharks shop at Sharkies.
NSW CUP
DEFENDING premiers Cronulla NSW Cup side, which bounced back after three losses in succession for a convincing win over Manly last Sunday, host the Newtown Jets at Remondis Stadium on Saturday afternoon with a side chock-full of players with first grade experience.
Sharks NRL squad members Matt Prior, Daniel Holdsworth, Nathan Stapleton and youngster Michael Lichaa, have been joined by George Rose, Travis Robinson, Ben Hampton and Mahe Fonua from the Melbourne Storm, along with Junior Moors and fullback Kurt Mann.
The 3.15pm match is the first of three games at Remondis, followed by the under-20s and 7.30pm NRL game.