Wests Tigers have been rocked by an injury crisis with Robbie Farah to be sidelined for at least a month and recruit Matt Ballin expected to be out for at least the first five games. The Rabbitohs have injury woes of their own with fears Thomas Burgess will be out for up to six weeks with an ankle injury, while Canterbury's David Klemmer is facing a three-week ban.

The expected Ballin/Farah showdown for the No.9 jersey may not eventuate until weeks into the competition with both facing long-term stints on the sidelines because of knee injuries. Utility Dene Halatau and halfback Luke Brooks are also suspended for round one, meaning the Tigers are set to rely on Manaia Cherrington and the untried Jacob Liddle.

Farah hurt his knee early in the second half of the Tigers' 30-30 trial draw with Cronulla last Saturday. There is a slight concern he may need a knee reconstruction, which would sideline him for the rest of the season, when he goes under the knife on Tuesday but Tigers coach Jason Taylor was confident Farah would miss only four to six weeks.

The latest injury blow caps a turbulent time for Farah, whose playing future looked uncertain when he was told he could leave the club at the end of last year. But with Ballin still recovering from a knee reconstruction, Farah was promised first crack at the No.9 jersey.