PARRAMATTA'S stuttering attack has lost its most threatening player after five-eighth Feleti Mateo yesterday was ruled out for up to two games with a knee injury.

An MRI scan on the knee, injured during Saturday's loss to South Sydney, revealed a minor strain of the medial ligament. Mateo will miss Friday night's game against Manly at Brookvale and possibly the following week's home game against the Cowboys.

Kris Keating, Parramatta's Toyota Cup team captain, is Mateo's likely replacement, Eels coach Michael Hagan saying yesterday: "I'm confident Kris would do a good job. He's been around the team for most weeks, and he has played a couple of games off the bench and played pretty well."

The Eels are desperate for a win after back-to-back losses to Penrith and the Rabbitohs left them outside of the top eight.

Parramatta club doctor Michael Johnson said the length of Mateo's absence depended on how well he reacted to treatment.

"It's just going to depend on speed of recovery," Johnson said. "If Feleti's lucky, he'll only miss the one game, or it'll be two."

Johnson said Eels prop Josh Cordoba, who has an abdominal strain, and halfback Brett Finch (hamstring strain) would be fit to play Manly. He said prop Fuifui Moimoi's corked knee would be checked tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Penrith have had to wait until today to learn the results of the scan second-rower Frank Pritchard underwent on his shoulder yesterday.

Panthers chief executive Mick Leary said medical opinion before the scan was that there was a reasonable chance the damage would be only minor and that Pritchard, who was hurt during Friday's loss to Newcastle, would play against Gold Coast at Skilled Park on Saturday.

Leary said Panthers halfback Luke Lewis, who is recovering from a minor calf muscle injury, would play.

He said prop Adam Woolnough, who has been out since injuring a knee against West Tigers in round four, may be considered for first grade after making a comeback for Windsor in the NSW Cup on Sunday.

Penrith hooker Luke Priddis is believed to be close to finalising a deal with the Dragons for the next two years. The Panthers have been focusing on younger talent - such as 20-year-old Masada Iosefa at hooker.

Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce was the only player charged from last weekend - a grade-one contrary conduct for dropping the knees. Pearce can avoid suspension by entering an early guilty plea, which would leave him on 93 penalty points.