Wests Tigers prop Aaron Woods says the injury-hit Tigers won't rush star five-eighth Benji Marshall back prematurely from a toe injury in time for Friday's NRL clash against Canterbury.
The Tigers are struggling to field a team against the Bulldogs with a whopping 10 players unavailable through injury.
Coach Mick Potter's biggest concerns are finding a half-back and two new centres after stand-in number seven Tim Moltzen suffered a season-ending knee injury and Blake Ayshford (ankle) and Chris Lawrence (hamstring) also went down against Brisbane.
With first-choice half-back Braith Anasta expected to miss another three weeks with a groin injury, there has been speculation Marshall (turf toe) will make a shock return on Friday night.
But Woods doubts the New Zealand veteran will risk further injury by making a hasty return.
"We're going to just let him get back to 100 percent, we don't want him to come back at 80 percent, we want him to be 100 percent right," Woods said of Marshall, who suffered the injury in Round 5 against Melbourne.
"Because if he comes back at 80 percent he could come back and hurt himself and then we lose him for the rest of the year which we don't want.
"So we're giving Benji as much time as he wants and I don't know if play this week or the next couple of weeks, it's just up to the physio."
Woods, who made his NRL debut one day after his 20th birthday in 2011, admits the club's injury crisis is not ideal but is confident the next generation will step up and fill the void against the Bulldogs.
"It's not too good at the moment, we know Timmy (Moltzen) is out for the season and the other two (Ayshford and Lawrence) have got scans today so we'll find out how bad they are," he said.
"It leaves a massive hole but we've got our young blokes going well in the Under 20's and NSW Cup so they'll step up this week against the 'Dogs.
"No doubt they'll handle it, I reckon it's a lot easier coming up to first grade and playing with the (experienced) guys we've got there.
"They've just got to go into the game and prepare 100 percent and all the boys have got all the faith in the world in them so they'll be ready when they come in."
Woods, who says he's starting to find form after off-season knee surgery, is expecting a tough assignment against the struggling 'Dogs.
"They're a good side, they've only just been losing games and they've played a lot of good sides ... they haven't been playing easy beats," he said.
"They've had a bit of bad luck as well with injuries and suspensions but we just need to get a bit of good luck on our side and hopefully that starts this week."