Sandon Smith has been identified as the man to replace Sam Walker and lead the Sydney Roosters out of injury hell and into NRL finals.
It comes as second-rower Angus Crichton has warned the side cannot afford to become bogged down by three devastating injury blows as they fight to keep their premiership tilt on track.
Long touted as Luke Keary's successor at the Tricolours, 21-year-old Smith has been named halfback for Friday's clash with South Sydney, which Walker (knee), hooker Brandon Smith (knee) and Victor Radley (shoulder) will all miss following injuries in Sunday's loss to Canberra.
Only second-rower Radley is any chance of returning again this season as key men Walker and Smith brace to miss time next season through their anterior cruciate ligament issues.
Connor Watson has been named as Smith's replacement at hooker, having filled in periodically this year, but Zach Dockar-Clay will provide extra cover on the bench.
In-form Sitili Tupouniua fills in for Radley on the edge, with Naufahu Whyte and Fetalaiga Pauga joining the starting side in place of Nat Butcher (head knock) and Daniel Tupou (rested).
Walker's injury has the potential to impact the Roosters' premiership tilt most gravely; in the NRL era, no side has won the premiership without their first-choice halfback.
A loss against traditional rivals Souths this weekend would preclude the Roosters from hosting a week-one finals game and consign them to a tough away trip to either Melbourne or Penrith.
"Obviously we've got a difficult road ahead of us. My heart goes out to those guys that have ended their season," Crichton said.
Crichton made a bee-line for Walker's place after the upset loss on Sunday and whacked on a favourite sitcom to help cheer his mate up.
"I went and hung out with Sammy after the game, we were watching Seinfeld on his couch," Crichton said.
"I'm really tight with Sammy, I sort of tried to take him under my wing when he came here (from Brisbane) as a young kid. He's one of my good mates, so I'm hurting for him."
At the same time, Crichton is wary of committing too much energy to the personnel issues as Easts look to defy predictions the injuries will thwart their title hopes.
"We can't dwell on (the injuries) too much," Crichton said.
"We'll support them and get around them but the next job is Souths.
"We're going to go down swinging, there's no way we're going out without a fight. We've got such a great squad with so much depth in so many positions.
"We believe in what we can do."
Watson had been a chance to fill in at halfback after moving there mid-game against the Raiders, while Joey Manu would also have been an option to join the halves after playing five-eighth during Walker's ACL struggles last season.
"We're fortunate at the Roosters that we've got a pretty deep squad this year," Watson said.
Prior to being named at hooker, State of Origin utility Watson indicated he would slot into any position as needed.
"I'm happy to do whatever. I have been enjoying playing hooker this year," Watson said.
