Just when Parramatta have finally received some much-needed good news in their faltering Telstra Premiership campaign with halfback Mitchell Moses cleared of a long-term injury, second-rower Tepai Moeroa is facing three to five weeks on the sidelines for a shoulder charge.

After initial fears he had suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury in Saturday night's loss to the Knights, scans cleared him of any major damage on Sunday.

Moeroa has been hit with a grade-three offence for his shoulder charge on Newcastle veteran Chris Heighington at ANZ Stadium.

He will miss three weeks if he enters an early guilty plea but five games if he unsuccessfully challenges the charge at the judiciary.



Parramatta remain in last place after their 30-4 loss to Newcastle.

"He has deep bone bruising and will miss one to two weeks depends on how his leg responds," an Eels spokesman said.

Moses will likely miss the Eels' next two matches and then return after the second State of Origin match in round 16.

Utility Will Smith also received encouraging news - his hamstring problem was a strain and not a tear and is likely to only miss one match, perhaps two.

For Parramatta's two players undergoing concussion protocols after head injury assessments on Saturday night, Bevan French passed his first on Sunday morning but will have to clear more tests later in the week to be able to play the Cowboys in Darwin next Saturday night.

Peni Terepo passed his tests and is the more likely of the pair to play in round 14.